Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to speak on the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 and the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023. The Australia, United Kingdom and United States, or AUKUS, security partnership is committed to a free, open, secure and stable Indo-Pacific. The first major AUKUS initiative, Australia's acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines, will enhance our capacity as a country to defend ourselves around our territorial waters and our national interests. The AUKUS nuclear powered submarine pathway will deliver long-term strategic benefits to all three countries. It strengthens the combined industrial capacity of all three nations, with increased cooperation making trilateral supply chains more robust and resilient.

This bill is the second legislative step in support of Australia's acquisition of these submarines. It builds on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill that was introduced in May and commenced in July last year. Following the passage of that bill in August last year, the Australian Labor Party National Conference held in Brisbane, where I was a delegate, adopted a statement in detail explaining why we are requiring conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines. We recognise that deciding to acquire these submarines is a hard choice but a clear one. The Collins class submarines we currently operate have a potent capability, but diesel-electric submarines become increasingly detectable, and they will continue to do so in the future. So we want to make sure we have a leading-edge capability. We need, simply, to take the step of nuclear propulsion.

The statement by the conference in detail explained how a Labor government will go about acquiring conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines. For example, it says:

Labor will ensure that Australian workers will benefit from the massive investments in industry, infrastructure, and common user facilities.

…   …   …

Labor will ensure that Australia continues to meet all its non-proliferation obligations and commitments under international law …

…   …   …

Labor will maintain Australia's longstanding position of not possessing or seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

…   …   …

Labor will ensure Australia is a responsible nuclear steward and maintains the highest level of nuclear safety in respect of nuclear-powered submarines.

As a delegate, I supported that particular motion and statement, and I continue to do so today.

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 in particular is specifically focused on ensuring Australia maintains the highest level of nuclear safety in respect of nuclear powered submarines. It will enable the establishment of a new regulatory framework, including an independent regulator to ensure nuclear safety within Australia's nuclear powered submarine enterprise and capability life cycle. The new framework will harmonise with other schemes, including workplace health and safety, nuclear nonproliferation and civilian nuclear safety.

This bill will establish a new independent statutory regulator, the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety. Regulator, to ensure we apply the highest standards of nuclear safety across our nuclear powered submarine enterprise and continue to implement the AUKUS agreement. This is the second legislative package introduced to support the pathway of AUKUS. The new regulator will have the functions and powers necessary to regulate the unique circumstances associated with nuclear safety and also protection across the life cycle of Australia's nuclear powered submarine enterprise, and it includes associated infrastructure and facilities. The regulator will be independent of Australia's Defence Force chain of command and directions from the Department of Defence. It is fundamental that a system of regulation be independent. It will work with submariners, with the safety of submariners, with the Australian and international communities, and with the environmental authorities. The regulator will be a non-corporate Commonwealth entity within the Defence portfolio and will report directly to the Minister for Defence. The legislation also establishes a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework, imposing strict nuclear safety duties and licensing requirements for activities related to nuclear powered submarines.

The legislation is reflective of the government's commitment to workplace health and safety; dealing with environmental issues and the harmful effect of radiation; preventing accidents; mitigating the consequences of accidents; and implementing proper operating conditions for regulated activities. In particular, the bill establishes some nuclear safety duties to apply to conducting regulated activities; creates a licensing scheme for persons who conduct activities in relation to naval nuclear power; and establishes this new regulator, the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, which has some inspectors associated with it. There will be monitoring and compliance powers, offences and civil penalty and provisions. There will be some clarification of certain Commonwealth, state and territory laws. The legislation enables the transition to the new regulator of any licences issued by ARPANSA where they correspond to the regulated activities under the bill before the chamber. The bill ensures that any licences issued by ARPANSA in accordance with the legislation governing it will be treated as Australian naval nuclear power safety licences for the purposes of the legislation before the House. It is consistent with the first tranche of AUKUS related legislation, which passed the parliament previously. By the way, the moratorium on civil nuclear power in Australia has been a feature of our law since the Howard government enacted the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in the late 1990s. This robust and comprehensive approach to regulating Australia's nuclear powered submarine program recognises our commitment to nuclear stewardship and upholding the high standards of safety and security.

The new regulator will have access to relevant expertise and experience and will deal with our international partners. The legislation is an important step in ensuring we have nuclear safety and protection across the life cycle of this historic capability. We deliver on our commitment, which is the single biggest investment in our defence capability in our history, and the establishment of the regulator is a critical element in this game-changing capability. It will be a specialised and dedicated regulator, as I said.

We're getting on with the job of making good progress when it comes to bedding down the AUKUS partnership, and it's supported by both sides of politics and supported by our partners. In discussions I've had with US and UK politicians, here in Australia and overseas, there is a bipartisan commitment. For example, there's been a change of government in the UK. I spoke to conservative politicians as well as Labor politicians, then in opposition, who both indicated in discussions with me that they supported AUKUS and strongly did so, whether in the Palace of Westminster or in Edinburgh, where I visited.

AUKUS partners have now signed an agreement that's essential to Australia's capability to safely build, operate and maintain this conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarine capacity. This enables the UK and the US to transfer these technologies, items and equipment for Australia's future nuclear powered submarines, and our allies have done this in the past. For example, in my electorate I witnessed the Growler technology that the US has provided our planes, based in Amberley. That's the benefit of having these relationships with our strong allies, like the UK and the US: there'll be continued trilateral communication and exchange of information to nuclear powered submarines amongst our partners.

It's critical for us to have a sovereign nuclear powered submarine capacity from the 2030s, with the transfer of the Virginia class submarines from the US to Australia and the building of Australia's SSN-AUKUS submarines in Adelaide, consistent with our commitment with the other partners to make sure we maintain the highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation. It's a useful reminder that, while most attention has focused on the acquisition of nuclear powered submarines, AUKUS is much broader than that. It's an effective technology-sharing partnership between three allies.

Complementing this, Australia, the UK and the United States have recently finalised the establishment of an export licence-free trade agreement, which is an environment that creates reform and provides reciprocal, national exemptions from our respective export control frameworks, unlocking billions of dollars of investment and cutting red tape for Australian industry and our AUKUS partners. As of this month, AUKUS partners, industry, higher education and research sectors will now be able to export most military and dual-use goods, technology and services without requiring a licence. It demonstrates the Labor government's commitment, and our AUKUS partners' commitment, to deliver on a collective commitment to streamline defence trade and accelerate collaboration on asymmetric capabilities.

Lastly, when it comes to significant employment benefits that will flow from the AUKUS partnership, the Albanese government has just announced that they will deliver a new exclusive jobs for subs training program for more than 200 young Western Australians to work in the AUKUS submarine program. This new nuclear powered submarine graduate apprenticeship and training initiative is an incredible opportunity for young people. These workers will work on the nuclear powered submarine program, particularly on the Submarine Rotational Force-West, based on HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. As part of this, they will receive training across high-priority disciplines and in essential trades, including span fabrication and machining, engineering and project management, and supply chain operations and qualifications. This will deliver hundreds of jobs and will build the workforce we need to sustain and maintain these submarines.

In closing, the acquisition of these submarines through the AUKUS partnership is the biggest single investment in Australia's defence capability in our history. It strengthens our national security. It contributes to regional stability in response to unprecedented challenges. It builds a future made in Australia by Australians, with record investments in defence, skills, jobs and infrastructure. It will deliver a superior capability and ensure there is no capability gap after a decade of inaction and mismanagement by those opposite.

As part of this we will need a sophisticated security and safety architecture around the nuclear powered submarine program, and that's what this legislation is all about. I want to acknowledge the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence for bringing forward these important measures to ensure the safety of the submarine program. This is a responsible and a necessary step to ensure delivery of the submarines and the safety and security of Australians. It build on the legal architecture to support this endeavour to ensure further tranches of legislation and this work will extend beyond the life of this parliament. We will continue to adopt a methodical, phased approach to building our capacity as a nation to safely and securely build, maintain and operate conventionally armed nuclear powered submarines. Doing this will make all Australians safer. I commend the bill to the House.

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