US CONGRESS WELCOME FOR AUSSIE SUB CREW
AUSTRALIAN navy officers would receive rigorous training aboard US nuclear submarines under a “milestone” piece of legislation introduced in Washington.
Democratic and Republican congressmen have proposed a Bill that would allow Australian submariners to study at a special nuclear school in South Carolina before being deployed on US nuclear submarines every year from 2023.
Democratic congressman Joe Courtney is spearheading the AustraliaUS Submarine Officer Pipeline Act, which would provide a major boost to the AUKUS partnership and address concerns Australia will not have the skills to operate nuclear subs.
“The AUKUS alliance is the most important national security partnership that America has entered into in decades,” said Mr Courtney, co-chairman of the Congressional AUKUS Working Group.
He labelled the legislation, which has bipartisan support, a “major milestone” in the AUKUS pact between Australia, the US and Britain.
“Our Bill will authorise an education and training program for Royal Australian Navy submariners to receive formal instruction in the highest standard of US Navy technology”, he said.
Starting next year, at least two Australian submariners every year would be deployed to the US to be trained at the Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, South Carolina, before being assigned to duty on a US nuclear submarine.
Earlier this month, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton revealed the Morrison government had planned to purchase two Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the US production line in Connecticut by 2030, before another eight were built at Adelaide’s Osborne shipyard.
But the Opposition leader on Sunday struggled to explain the basis of his plan.
Mr Dutton told ABC’s Insiders program it was based on his “judgment” after visiting the Connecticut shipyard, but said he was not going to divulge details of “discussions” there.
Mr Dutton accused the federal government of trying to “crab walk” away from the AUKUS deal.
Defence Minister Richard Marles was contacted for comment.