Australian PM throws submarine tender open to domestic shipbuilder

Does 'domestic industry' promise to get it right this time?

Aboot is a goose! There is an in-house election tomorrow and there is a good chance he will no longer be PM of Australia. He started all this crap about submarines when Abe was in Australia and received a huge public backlash for sending such a large contract overseas. Now, the day before his leadership election he does a complete backflip on the submarine contract. Goodbye and good riddance Abbott!

"the global arms market"

Sigh. How about a global love-fest market? No good?

@Disillusioned

I don't know how to break this to you mate, but.......... he survived. Don't worry, I feel your pain. Today's result has just highlighted just how stupid politics can be.

Regarding this submarine issue, despite all the chest beating that is happening in Australia about "buying domestic", the simple fact of the matter is that Australia's dockyards have a pretty abysmal record when it comes to building anything more complex than a canoe. That being said, however, Abbott's eagerness to make friends with Abe and offer him a construction contact worth billions defies belief. The submarines that Japan builds aren't really suitable for the Australian navy's needs. The Soryu Class is designed to operate over relatively short distances in NE Asian waters, not the vast expanses of the the South Pacific. Moreover, there is the lingering stench that the deal struck between Abe and Abbott was less about defense needs and more about Australia giving Japan a kick-start in its new policy of actively pursuing arms exports.

Whatever the case, although Abe might be Japanese PM for some time to come (in the absence of competitors), the end of Abbott's tenure as Australian PM is not far off.

The only positive backlash so far is that there is no whaling in the southern seas this year.

You cannot affront a potentual customer, can you?

Lets be positive. No whaling in the southern seas this year!

It concerns me that Abbott, despite nearly losing the leadership, still believes he retains a mandate. He has proven already that he's prepared to act unilaterally in order to impose his antiquated ideologies. It's rather ironic that such a staunch monarchist thinks he has the authority of a president. Today's polls have his popularity at record lows and would see his government humiliated at the next election. He is clearly unfit for office yet his colleagues somehow saw fit to give him another shot. They'll likely regret that when they lose their jobs.

HongoTAFEinmate

The submarines that Japan builds aren't really suitable for the Australian navy's needs. The Soryu Class is designed to operate over relatively short distances in NE Asian waters, not the vast expanses of the the South Pacific.

The distance of the Soryu Class Attack Subs are "Classified". Unless your going to start building nuclear subs, distance will be an issue anyway. Just saying.

he wouldn’t trust the company “to build a canoe.” Johnston later apologised and was subsequently dropped from the Abbott ministry.

He lost the job because of his bluntness. It is hard to get the conclusion as Sub Marines built in Australia or Japan or anywhere in the world will be battle ready, fully weather proof and energy efficient.

When Toyota, Ford and Holden built the new car, they could do the stress test and consumer surveys. Japanese likes Sushi. Aussie likes BBQ sausages. It is hard for Japanese to understand Aussie taste and needs.

Building own subs will blow the budget and time. Buying ready made subs will need to be modified with local taste. The best thing is making short and medium range missiles which is cheaper and more efficient than subs.

I didn't know Australia had any state-owned companies. I feel very disappointed in them.xtct