Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will today visit ASC in Adelaide to meet workers whose jobs are on the line as a result of the Abbott Government preparing to break its promise to build future submarines in Australia.
Before the election, the now Defence Minister David Johnston stood outside ASC and promised that the Coalition would build twelve new submarines in Adelaide.
“We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia. The Coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide."
Senator Johnston, Press Conference, 8 May 2013.
Tony Abbott and David Johnston have looked South Australians in the eye and lied to their faces.
This will be yet another broken promise from a Government that is addicted to lying – and South Australians will pay the price.
It’s another kick in the guts for South Australia, only months after the Abbott Government goaded Holden and Toyota into sending thousands of local jobs overseas.
Labor will fight the Abbott Government to ensure it keeps its promise to build Australia’s new submarine fleet in Adelaide.
It is time that Australia had a Government that stands up for our strategically vital submarine and ship building industries, not one that is prepared to see thousands of highly skilled Australian jobs leave the country.
Buying submarines from overseas will devastate South Australia and could irresponsibly put our national security at risk as a maritime nation.
In uncertain times, the last thing the Abbott Government should be doing is destroying our home grown submarine and shipbuilding industries.
No one can predict every threat or future conflict. But we do know that Australia will remain an island nation and submarine and ship building is a strategic asset that we can’t let wither and die.
To sign the Save Our Submarines petition go to: www.saveoursubs.com.au
TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2014
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