The Australian Government has announced it will establish a new agency and regulator as part of its commitment to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines. Source: Pixabay
The Australian Government has announced it will establish a new agency and regulator as part of its commitment to deliver Australian nuclear submarines.
The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) will be established via Executive Order.
It will be responsible and accountable for the oversight and management of the Australian nuclear submarine program.
The Government considers the nuclear submarines, acquired through the AUKUS partnership with the US and UK, to be critical to ensuring nation’s Defence Force has the capabilities to keep Australians safe.
The Australian Government says that work to deliver the pathway is already underway and in line with the recommendations of considers the Defence Strategic Review that was published last month.
The nuclear-powered submarine program remains a key priority under the Albanese Government.
Through its lead in the delivery of the submarine program, ASA will be responsible for the ‘cradle-to-grave’ management. This includes the nuclear submarines’:
- Acquisition
- Delivery
- Construction
- Technical governance
- Sustainment
- Disposal
The current Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce, which operates as part of Defence, will transition to the ASA on July 1st of this year.
Along with ASA, the Government will establish an independent statutory regulator, The Australian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Safety Regulator.
This new regulator will have the ability to regulate the specific circumstances associated with nuclear safety and radiological protection throughout the lifecycle of the Australian nuclear submarine program. It will be independent of the Australian Defence Force’s chain of command, and Department of Defence directions.
““The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, which is the single biggest investment in our defence capability in our history,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.
“The establishment of the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Safety Regulator are critical elements of delivering this game-changing capability and will ensure the safe and successful implementation of the pathway for Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.
“A specialised and dedicated regulator — which will be independent of Defence and the Australian Defence Force — will ensure we have the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection across the lifecycle of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.”
The Government announced last year that it would establish a nuclear submarine base on Australia’s east coast. In March, ABC News reported that the preferred location is Port Kembla in NSW, however a final decision is yet to be made.
The Department of Defence’s full media release can be read here.
