Ex-minister backs ‘trusted’ Austal over China concernsby Leah...

Ex-minister backs ‘trusted’ Austal over China concerns
by Leah Courtney, copyright link
January 29, 2023 12:41 AM

Former defence minister Linda Reynolds says Perth-based shipbuilder Austal is a “trusted” partner for the Australian and US navies after a US congressman demanded the listed company be shut out of building US submarines because of the risk of China gaining access to military secrets.Florida Republican Neal Dunn told The Australian Financial Reviewlast week he believed there was a high threat that proprietary US national security information may have been acquired by the Chinese through a partnership Austal had with China-based Jianglong Shipbuilding that ended in 2021.Dr Dunn – who insists his criticism is not motivated by his district being home to a rival shipbuilder – flagged raising the matter with incoming Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.Austal’s US arm, based in Alabama, has contracts with the US Navy as well as Coast Guard to build surface ships, and has recently branched out to become a supplier to the US nuclear submarine program.In Perth, Austal is building new patrol boats for the Australian navy as well as patrol boats being gifted to Pacific nations.Under the AUKUS agreement, the US and UK will share nuclear-powered submarine technology – information that is among the military’s most sensitive and secret – with Australia.Senator Reynolds, a Liberal from Western Australia who was defence industry minister and defence minister between 2019 and 2021, backed the company.“Austal is an important, long-standing and trusted sovereign military and industrial capability for Australian military,” she said.“They are also a trusted partner for the United States Department of Defence, a reputation gained through a long and deep partnership.“If any US congressional representative has a specific concern, they should refer it to the appropriate US authorities.“In the current geo-strategic environment, it is essential that close trusted partners like the USA and Australia continue to work together to expand our respective industrial bases to enhance our collective military response capabilities.”Defence Minister Richard Marles declined to comment but asked whether it had concerns about Austal’s former Chinese business, the Australian Defence Department simply said: “Defence is aware Austal and Jianglong Shipbuilding ceased its arrangement in 2021.”