The government is drunk on AUKUS Kool-Aid and Peter Dutton seems to want even more of the same, writes Rex Patrick.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton is talking big on Defence, promising an extra $21 billion on Defence spending between now and 2030.

He, along with Prime Minister Albanese, is clinging to the AUKUS submarine scheme as the touchstone of Australia’s future security in a troubled world.

But here’s a reality check with particular relevance for our state, South Australia. When it comes to our role in naval shipbuilding, it’s fair to say we’ve been well and truly dudded.

On 17 September 2021, the day before Scott Morrison announced the AUKUS program, SA’s defence industry had contracts in place to build twelve Attack-class submarines and nine future frigates. Osborne was also designated the shipyard where all major combatant vessels would be built.

Three and a half years later it’s a very different story. As things now stand, thanks to decisions of both the Morrison and Albanese Governments, South Australia has no contracts to build submarines, the number of future frigates has shrunk from nine to six; and the eleven new General Purpose Frigates won’t be built in SA, rather overseas and in WA.

The best we can hope for moving forward is that SA will start to build........

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