The federal government has not undertaken a safety assessment or planning study for the prospect of docking nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide, according to documents obtained by independent senator Rex Patrick.
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.
In part two of his deep dive into the many uncertainties facing an Australian nuclear submarine program, Kevin Naughton pulls apart the enormous costs of converting Australia’s shipbuilding infrastructure to build American nuclear subs and other potential barriers to local construction.
French President Emmanuel Macron would be ready to speak with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison if the talks were “prepared in a serious manner,” an official says, but there is no word on when France will return its ambassador to Australia.