Have our politicians been hoodwinked over submarine tender process? (French ships for Australia)

The Australian ^ | June 22, 2017 | ROBERT GOTTLIEBSEN

[sukhoi-30mki]

The first signs are emerging that the French in the Australian submarine tender process hoodwinked Australian government politicians, including the Prime Minister.

Just what knowledge defence officials had of the French government’s real intentions is likely to become a major issue.

Last night before a Senate Committee we saw the French winning bidder DCNS back tracking on the clear promises both it and our government politicians had made — that 90 per cent of the work would take place in Australia.

Before I set out the latest Senate revelations I want to go back to the time of the tender. In my commentaries here and here I explained that the French did not have the digital technology to be able to fully make all the submarines in Australia except at great cost.

Confirming this, when the submarine contract was announced the French Presidential office declared in the newspaper Le Monde that €8bn, or $12bn would be spent in France and some 3,000 to 4,000 French people would be mobilised.

At the time the Australian government pointed out to me that it wasn’t until 48 hours before the announcement that Australia settled on building all submarines in Adelaide. The French Presidential office had not caught up with this development. I accepted the assurances from our government.

And indeed confirming the government statements, the initial Australian head of the winning French company DCNS, Sean Costello declared very clearly that “over 90 per cent” of the $50 billion submarine build would take place in Australia — exactly what had been promised by the Prime Minister.

Until last night I thought I must have been be wrong. Perhaps the French did have the technology and could honour their undertaking.

[DesertRhino]

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