August 27, 2018

Status Quo Retained in Australia's Adelaide centric Naval Shipbuilding

After the political chaos last week - there is likely to be little disruption to Australia's Adelaide centric shipbuilding program under the new ministry selected by Scott Morrison. Facilities are being built in Osborne, Adelaide, South Australia to build the first two offshore patrol vessels, nine large frigates and twelve large conventional submarines.

On Monday August 27, 2018:
-  former Defence Minister Marise Payne was moved sideways to Foreign Minister
-  former Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne was appointed Defence Minister. Adelaide
   politician Pyne thus will maintain the Adelaide centric status quo. Federal money dependent
   Adelaide remains Australia's naval shipbuilding center due to the electoral voting/seats. He/she who
   pleases Adelaidians will stay in government in Canberra (Australia's capital).
-  rising politician Steve Ciobo from Queensland has been appointed Defence Industry Minister.

Of other Ministers with influence over shipbuilding:

-  Prime Minister Morrison will likely maintain the policy settings of his former Treasurer role in
   retaining most naval shipbuilding in Adelaide.

-  this is cemented by Mathias Cormann retaining his Finance Minister role with strong influence
   over shipbuilder and submarine maintainer ASC's role in Adelaide.

Potential disruptor Tony Abbott remains in backbench limbo with no ministerial power to alter the naval shipbuilding mix. So far Prime Minister Morrison has resisted any rightwing factional pressure to return "Mad Monk" rival Abbott to the Ministry.

Returning to submarines tomorrow.

Pete

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