05/09/2006

Avustralya'da Nükleer Denizaltı Tartışmaları

Avustralya'dan The Age adlı haber sitesinde yer alan makaleye göre, Avustralya Savunma Bakanlığı'ndaki denizaltı tedarik dairesi başkanı Amiral Peter Briggs ve ülkenin önde gelen savunma analistlerinden Allan Behn'in hazırlayıp başbakan John Howard'a sunduğu raporda, Avustralya'nın bölgesindeki krizlere daha çabuk müdahale edebilmesi için nükleer tahrikli denizaltılara yönelmesi tavsiye ediliyor.

Muhalefet lideri Kim Beazley ise Avustralya'nın nükleer tahrikli denizaltılara sahip olmasına şiddetle karşı çıkmakta. Dolayısıyla olayın siyasi yönü de ağırlık kazanmakta.



Avustralya Deniz Kuvvetleri'nde halihazırda 6 adet Collins sınıfı dizel elektrik tahrikli denizaltı bulunuyor.



Submarine fleet 'should go nuclear'

Katharine Murphy
September 5, 2006


AUSTRALIA must consider commissioning a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, a submission to the nuclear taskforce says. The move will be necessary to deal with complex security pressures emerging within the region over the next two decades.

The former head of the navy's submarine team, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs, and one of Australia's top national security analysts, Allan Behm, claim the national debate on nuclear energy allows Australia to consider seriously the advantages of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines to replace the Collins class.

In a submission to John Howard's nuclear taskforce, they argue the current and emerging security imperatives of the region, which will require Australia's defence forces to respond to "short-notice contingencies" over the next 15 to 20 years, favour nuclear-powered fleets.

"Nuclear propulsion allows the submarine to proceed covertly at high speed … and greatly reduces the risk of counter detection of the submarine."

The men warn Australia will not be able to secure such a controversial shift in defence procurement policy without bipartisan political support.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley was the architect of the Australian Navy's program that developed the Collins-class submarine while serving as defence minister in the Hawke government in the mid-1980s.

But Mr Beazley has declared his party will oppose any move by the Howard Government to develop a nuclear power industry in Australia.

"Without (the foundation of bipartisanship) any discussion about the need for nuclear power for Australia's submarine capability is likely to be poorly directed and at risk of derailing the fundamental need to start preparations for replacing this critical national capability," Admiral Briggs and Mr Behm say.

The controversial argument in favour of Australia considering nuclear-propelled warships is made in a submission to an inquiry headed by former Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski.

The inquiry has published about 200 submissions considering arguments for and against Australia developing a domestic nuclear industry. It will report to the Government in November.

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