On January 28, 2022 I wrote about the Australian Greens Party's
opposition to Australian future nuclear submarines.
Prime Minister Morrison’s decision today to name possible cities to host an East Coast Nuclear Submarine Base pre-empts the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce's 18 month review period. That period was to end in April 2023 and would deal with the whole range of nuclear submarine "project management" issues including basing.
Actually naming 3 possible nuclear submarine base cities provides a concrete nuclear issue to drive a wedge between the ALP and Greens parties. Those parties disagree on nuclear issues. The cities are Port Kembla-Wollongong, Newcastle and Brisbane.
It is well known that Greens voters are anti-nuclear, so Greens candidates now need to ramp up opposition to nuclear submarines bases in those cities. In contrast the Greens usual ally, the ALP, which has been supporting the Morrison Government’s nuclear submarine policies will now need to openly contradict the Greens.
In the last Australian Federal Election in 2019 the Greens secured
10.4% of the primary vote (House of Representatives) nationally.
An initial look at the most relevant Federal seats in the 3 possible cities indicates a higher than average Greens vote, hence more scope for wedging. Results following the last Election, in 2019:
Port Kembla-Wollongong (Division of Cunningham) with a strong primary Greens vote of 15%
Newcastle (Division of Newcastle) with a strong primary Greens vote of
16%
Brisbane with a very strong primary Greens vote of 23%.
Of course there are other inner city Divisions/Electorates near the possible nuclear submarine ports that also have a disproportionately high percentage of Greens anti-nuclear submarine voters.
So there will now be a wedge between ALP and Greens candidates in those 3 cities on the nuclear submarines base issue.
Also some ALP left leaning candidates, if asked, may now oppose a nuclear submarine base in or near their city. If so, Morrison will have succeeded, today, in driving a wedge between the ALP's official pro-nuclear submarine policy and the viewpoints of some ALP candidates.
In terms of Morrison's announcement causing a wedge within the ALP.
ReplyDeleteNuatali Nelmes, the Labor Lord Mayor of Newcastle
"said the city had been nuclear-free since 1982 and hoped Newcastle was not high on the list of options.
"I really think it's galling to consider the AUKUS arrangement and the purchase of these nuclear submarines has somehow meant that we've shifted our international defence strategy from not being nuclear to nuclear," she said.
"There are so many issues with the way Scott Morrison and this coalition government are behaving, but just to assume that somehow the city of Newcastle is going to be a target if ever there is a war.
"I know the people of Newcastle and I know how they would feel if they were over-ridden, particularly when it comes to nuclear disarmament and weaponising our port.
"They [the government] wouldn't just have an issue with the City of Newcastle, they'll have an issue with the people of Newcastle."
The above is from ABC News article: "Newcastle nuclear submarine base shortlisting dismissed as 'pork-barrelling'" of March 8, 2022 at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-08/newcastle-submarine-base-shortlist/100890846
Also see biodata on Nuatali Nelmes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuatali_Nelmes
Doesn't help their argument when they confuse nuclear powered SSN using conventional weapons with nuclear-armed SSBNs.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous [at Mar 8, 2022, 11:44:00 PM]
ReplyDeleteYep nothing to worry about, for those in Canberra parliamentary or Russell offices Bunkers.
If only US SSNs or SSGNs visit the "lucky winner" (Port Kembla, Newcastle or Brisbane) is likely to be a Chinese or Russian nuclear target.
On that score see my "Concerns Valid About Hosting East Coast Nuclear Submarine Base" of March 9, 2022 at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/03/concerns-valid-about-hosting-east-coast.html
Cheers Pete