Coalition Senators' Additional Comments

1.1Coalition Senators welcome the ongoing progress of the AUKUS partnership and the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership.

1.2Both initiatives were commenced under the former Government and retain our full support on a bipartisan basis.

1.3Coalition Senators support the report’s recommendation that this Bill, which is a necessary step towards the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, be passed without delay.

1.4Coalition Senators note the views of submitters to this inquiry regarding Australia’s current moratorium on civil nuclear power.

1.5It is entirely reasonable that Australia has a conversation about whether it is necessary and appropriate to maintain a moratorium on civil nuclear power, considering the push to embrace clean technologies as part of efforts to decarbonise our economy, the fact that Australia will now be developing expertise and industry to support a safe and sustainable nuclear submarine program, and the relationship that exists in other jurisdictions between civil nuclear power programs and nuclear powered submarine programs.

Senator Claire Chandler

Deputy Chair, Senator for Tasmania

Senator the Hon David Fawcett

Senator for South Australia