Michael speaks to former-submariner-turned-Senator Rex Patrick, Independent Senator for South Australia, who has responded to the joint announcement of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, United States President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of a partnership that will enable Australia to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

“This is a very big strategic decision with long term national security, geopolitical, and economic consequences that must be the subject to rigorous and wide-ranging scrutiny,” Senator Patrick said.

“I’ve been a strong critic of the French submarine deal. The delays and cost overruns are huge and unacceptable.”

“But we have to be careful we don’t move from one massive procurement disaster into something else that hasn’t been thought through properly.”

“There are huge uncertainties about this announcement – including the selection of a US or British submarine, numbers, cost and schedule of acquisition and delivery.”

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