News
Australia’s claim it couldn’t consult France about torpedoing a $90 billion submarine contract has been labelled “childish” by the European nation’s returning ambassador.
Notes on Adelaide
In today’s Notes On Adelaide, The Advertiser has a little local difficulty with border exemptions, while the paper’s star columnist performs an admirable backflip on subs.
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Premier Steven Marshall has pledged new roles for “any or all” of the 350 Naval Group workers in South Australia whose jobs have been thrown into doubt by yesterday’s “major pivot” on Australia’s submarine contract, but the Government remains vague on whether a local employment component can now be safeguarded.
This week’s nuclear submarine announcement raises questions that need full and transparent examination. What is certain, writes Rex Patrick, is that the Federal Government’s atomic marketing efforts are designed to cover a huge mess of its own making.
South Australia will be the hub of a new world order in international defence, with a nuclear-powered submarine fleet to be built here and the existing Collins Class fleet to be serviced at Osborne – but the dramatic developments have created uncertainty for hundreds of local workers and sparked claims the state will have a “target on its back”.
The French Government has criticised Australia’s decision to scrap its $90 billion submarine deal with Naval Group, but France’s top diplomat in Adelaide says the “shock” announcement isn’t likely to damage South Australia’s economic ties with the European nation.
