Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator LAMBIE: So what you're saying is that, unlike previously when we purchased the submarines from the US, we won't go through the same situation where they are already full of rust and of very little use? The US is having itself. If I may table some pictures here, Chair. They are just pictures of submarines. They come straight off the internet. They are not anything official. I'm just wondering if I can table them. I've got copies there for them. They are pictures off the internet showing the rust issues that they already have. The US Congressional Research Service has reported that the Block I through to Block IV Virginia suffer from poor operation availability and, due to issues with the boats, their refits are taking longer than planned, they have too few parts, so they are always cannibalising other boats. Is this correct? Vice Adm. Hammond : I am the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, not of the United States Navy. What I can talk to regarding the US Navy commitment to working with us on our nuclear-powered submarine program is that unlike the Manoora and Kanimbla , which were more than 20 years old when they were acquired by the department, as Vice Admiral Mead has said, the nuclear submarines that will be acquired from the US Navy will have gone through a material maintenance program prior to being transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and they will have more than 20 years of life left. The discussions I've had with the US Navy is that they will be focused on giving us a robust, reliable nuclear-powered submarine capability and will be working with us on building our own skill sets and capability to sustain and operate the submarines into the future.