Shoebridge, Sen David

Senator SHOEBRIDGE: I'm going to ask some questions about the US's SLCM-Ns—sea-launched cruise missiles which have nuclear capability. ABC's Four Corners interviewed Decker Eveleth; he is from the CNA, which is a US government funded research institute that looks at ballistic and cruise missiles. He said in response to a question on whether or not nuclear-armed cruise missiles could be deployed in the Virginia class submarines rotating through Australia now—and, I stress, he's a world-renowned expert on this—'Yes, absolutely.' Is that Defence's understanding? Adm. Johnston : I think we're talking about a weapon that doesn't exist at the moment, so it's not plausible—