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The very popular Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull formally announcing his challenge against Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Significantly Malcolm Turnbull made no deal with Japanese Prime Minister Abe or with President Obama for Australia to buy Japanese submarines. It was Abbott, Abe and Obama who made the secret deal in 2014.
Turnbull might possibly change policy - making for a truly Competitive Evaluation Process for Australia's Future Submarine but possibly not.
As the Australian Government has decided to build
- 9 x 6,000 ton (full load) future frigates in Australia (in the next 20 years) and
- about 15 x (average 1,500 ton) corvettes/OPVs within Australia (in the next 20 years)
with all the excess costs that Australian shipbuilding involves - this still makes a fully Australian build of submarines highly unlikely.
Turnbull, as a former big businessman, might maintain the economic efficiency/cost savings of building the submarines overseas or what is perceived or presented as a "hybrid build" (perhaps 25% in Australia (including pressure hull steel) and 75% overseas).
Now that Turnbull has won the leadership the US Government might rapidly ask him/Australia to maintain the secret buy submarine from Japan deal.
THE RESULT
As the Australian Government has decided to build
- 9 x 6,000 ton (full load) future frigates in Australia (in the next 20 years) and
- about 15 x (average 1,500 ton) corvettes/OPVs within Australia (in the next 20 years)
with all the excess costs that Australian shipbuilding involves - this still makes a fully Australian build of submarines highly unlikely.
Turnbull, as a former big businessman, might maintain the economic efficiency/cost savings of building the submarines overseas or what is perceived or presented as a "hybrid build" (perhaps 25% in Australia (including pressure hull steel) and 75% overseas).
Now that Turnbull has won the leadership the US Government might rapidly ask him/Australia to maintain the secret buy submarine from Japan deal.
THE RESULT
Malcolm Turnbull is set to become Australia's 29th Prime Minister after toppling Tony Abbott 54 votes to 44 in a Liberal leadership ballot at Parliament House in Canberra on September 14, 2015.
Joe Hockey will not remain Treasurer and Kevin Andrews may not remain Defence Minister.
As Abbott is a devout Catholic - rumours that he will be appointed Ambassador to the Vatican have not yet been confirmed.
As Abbott is a devout Catholic - rumours that he will be appointed Ambassador to the Vatican have not yet been confirmed.
Pete