The Albanese government doesn't need to be “...mugged. Stomped on. Mowed over. Beaten" by anyone ; it has done itself in, and the rest of us; as did the the Morrison government, with the bizarre idea that jabbering about a few submarines that we might - or might not - get in twenty years time is protecting us from a China that could wipe us out RIGHT NOW.

If we still have any money that hasn't been blown by moronic politicians, it would be better spent on weapons available now, bought from countries who still manufacture. Making it worthwhile for people to enlist would also be a good idea instead of designing a uniform suitable for gender-benders would also be good, as would replacing the idiots in the top tier of the ADF. Oh, and a decent defence minister would be nice.

You know that AUKUS is a joke when no-nukes, no nothing New Zealand wants to join up.

I'm wondering if there is a connection between the generous sling to the UK and the possible advent of SMRs. Rolls-Royce make no secret that they see Australia as a prime market. Part of the $4.6 bn could be seen as virtual equity in reactors, the naval and civilian versions being similar.

SA gets way with a lot of wind and solar as they have little heavy industry. That could change with a new desal plant on the west coast and tripling of copper refining to the north. RR will have a foot in the door.

I'm sorry, but robbing the taxpayer is inappropriate terminology.

The taxpayer is bled by both incumbent majors on treasury benches, as and when elections are due.

Binroy, keep your pro-Russian, pro Chinese comments to yourself.

Both you and the Chinese don't want Australia to be able to defend itself against Chinese/CCP imperialism.

Par for the course for this anti-American author.
Alan B.

Pathetic lot of managerial toadies. Sickening rainbow sycophants. Down, down, down ..

Don’t vote!

The fact that Binoy gets all excited over AUKUS tells me that Australia is making the correct decision.

It just warms my heart, Mate, so keep those articles coming!

"It was mugged in throwing money (that of the Australian taxpayer) at the US submarine industry, which is lagging in its production schedule."
- I think your article is about a good year or so behind schedule Binoy.
Where were u then mate?

Did the Australian people front up for your MIT university fees?
- And you give us articles years too late?

What is your purpose Binoy?
To state the obvious long after it matters?
If so, then good job.

Australia like any other subservient toady has to "pay the piper" in this case payments to the Americans for "protection" from the big bad Chinese. Our payments take a couple of forms, one is Australian lives lost in American wars of aggression, and two cold hard cash, Americans love cash from subservient toadies like Australia. These boats of war are another down payment from an American lackey, and no one is more lackyer than Australia!

I find it rather perplexing that submarines are even considered for the defence of Australia when this Nation's worst enemies are already breeding here on land & not rocking on the ocean ?

Agree with Tas and Aspley.

D.D. You are obsessed with rainbows to the point of madness. You need to start taking your meds again.
Alan B.

THE AUKUS SSNs, IF THE PROJECT GETS THAT FAR, WOULD BE MONEY WELL SPENT

Unpublicised is the main value of future AUKUS SSNs. That is long range strike platforms for nuclear missiles to deter China.

Australia is considered equivalent to a NATO partner by the US and UK.

Within NATO the US shares 10 nuclear weapons each to Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. These are deterrents against Russia. Europe's geography permits these weapons to be deployed on relatively short range fighter-bomber aircraft. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing

Australia's requirements are for much longer range nuclear weapons to put mainland China at risk. Hence the plan for AUKUS by the late 2040s is to supply Australia with the best nuclear weapon platforms, which are nuclear propelled submarines.

Only SSNs, affordable for a middle power like Australia, have the speed and range to quickly be in striking distance of China's major cities if China attempted to attack Australia.

Within a patrol area about 2,000km east of Taiwan, Australia's SSNs would mount 6 to 8 hypersonic missiles with a range of around 4,000km. Missiles China would have a great deal of trouble stopping.

Maverick,
The scenario you're describing is way past the point of no return and, once at that point two lousy nuke subs won't make any difference. I don't think China has any interest in going through the trouble of attacking Australia anyway. Way too many logistic problems. Once Australia's been hit a few times it's all over red rover for China also. Australia would be far more effectively defended with coastal based missile stations but by the time it could come to that Australians would be a negligible minority & China would most likely just start occupying it's properties here.
The first thing this Nation needs to do is build up its Australian population but with a new breed, not with drugged to the eyeballs okkers waiting for the next footy game.

Given the behaviour of the Albanese government: their penchant for censorship, digital ID/surveillance, the recent Chinese-style Covid lockdowns, Australia will soon be New China anyway - all with the help of the Australian voters, who deserve what's going to happen.

Here's an example of the weakness of the West in the face of Communist China’s arrogance and aggression:

An American businessman leaving the city of Ningbo was knocked down at the airport by an electric buggy full of Communist VIPs.

The American had his passport seized, and was ordered to pay for damage to the buggy before he would be permitted to leave China.

The American diplomat who tried to help, was told by the businessman that he was willing to pay the fine because he didn't want to lose his chances of getting into the Communist market. The diplomat related the story as just one example of the indignities and wrongs Westerners were prepared to suffer to do business Communist China.

An Australian example is Albanese's refusal to complain to China about anything - including the recent life-threatening use of electronics against RAN personnel in the water - so that greedy Australians can sell their overpriced plonk to China.

The Communists, in their grey war against the West, constantly threaten increased tariffs and banning of imports, and our gutless politicians kowtow to them.

We are already being run from Beijing: on top of cyber-theft and espionage.

The calls for bans on Tik Tok and Temu look like being another big fail for suck-up-to-Commos Albanese.

Kudos ttbn

Ttbn, Yup!
Alan B.

robbing the Australian taxpayer

To pay for a very unlikely protection ?

ttbn, as an aside. I worked at the end of the Covid Lockdowns in WA & actually contracted Covid whilst working there, at a joint Chinese/Australian iron ore mine in the Pilbara. Whilst waiting in line at the airport, several Chinese employees decided to "jump the queue" in front of a colleague (a contractor like myself). When he challenged their rude behaviour, another corporate type from the company asked him to follow him away from the queue - where a short conversation ensued. As it happened I sat next to this bloke on the flight who then related that he was quote: " Being given the 'window seat'..." Which in FIFO speak means your services are no longer required. Unfortunately this kind of treatment of Australian Citizens is becoming more commonplace within the mining industry.

Manned fighting vehicles are obsolete.

Each one will be hunted down by drone swarms. Ukraine has changed everything, if it wasn't already.