Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 27 August
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) – which represents thousands of
shipbuilders around Australia – has accused the Abbott Government of breaking its election
promise to build Naval submarines in Australia
A delegation of Shipbuilders from around Australia has descended on Canberra to call on the
Government to commit to its election promise to build Australia’s next round of Submarines
in Australia.
“Tony Abbott and Minister Johnson are looking to put thousands of workers out of a job,
and are breaking an election promise made to workers and the people of South Australia,”
said AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian.
In 2012 Tony Abbott stated that “A Coalition government would treat the replacement of
the submarine fleet as a matter of urgency, and work on the project will centre around the
South Australian shipyards." [Adelaide Advertiser – 27 Aug 2012]
In 2013, after accepting the Submarine Strategy in the former Government’s Defence White
Paper, the Coalition recommitted to building 12 submarines in Adelaide on May 2013:
“We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia. The Coalition
today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide.”
[David Johnston Adelaide Press Conference – 8 May 2013]
However in recent weeks Defence Minister Johnson has suggested that the Government will
look to import submarines from Japan.
“As well as destroying jobs and industry, the Government is risking our national security with
this reckless move.
“We are an isolated island nation. If we stop building our own ships and submarines the
industry will die. Once it dies it will never come back again and we lose the ability to supply
our own Defence Force.
“This is an incredibly reckless move.”
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