From the AFR online today:
The purchase of nuclear-powered submarines is a “sensible alternative” to replacing the nation’s ageing Collins-class diesel-electric submarines, says nuclear physicist and former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski. “I think they would come in at a budget that would be no greater than what we would allow for Collins,” Dr Switkowski told Channel 10 on Sunday. “The US and the UK have only nuclear powered subs. We know they work, they’re faster than conventional diesel-powered submarines, they can stay underwater for essentially years at a time and they get refuelled every 20 or 30 years.” Dr Switkowski was responding to questions about The Australian Financial Review’s exclusive report on Saturday about growing support within Coalition ranks for acquiring or leasing Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the United States. Senior Coalition frontbenchers told the AFR that the Obama Administration would support such a move, although it is not yet official Coalition policy. Labor’s policy is to replace the Collins submarines with conventional submarines at a cost of up to $36 billion.
