Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator LAMBIE: I don't mean the teams. I want someone sitting at the table to put their foot down a little harder because, quite frankly, it looks to me like the US is walking all over the top of us. Vice Adm. Mead : We are working with the US to identify what is the best mix of submarines that we transfer to Australia. Vice Adm. Hammond : If I might add, next year it will be 30 years for me since I have qualified in submarines. I have conducted operational patrols in British nuclear submarines and in conventional Australian submarines. I have conducted a number of patrols and, frankly, I stand by my comments. That is indicative of a hard-working submarine returning from a patrol. The US Navy is the benchmark in submarine capability, in my view.