Peter Malinauskas announces first US visit
Premier Peter Malinauskas has today announced he will be travelling to the United States in his first official visit.
Malinauskas’ trip, which will happen in mid-May, will focus on South Australia’s involvement in the AUKUS submarine program.
Malinauskas will visit the two shipyards building nuclear-powered submarines in the US, as well as meeting with figures from the US defence program and submarine supply chain.
Malinauskas said it was “vital that South Australia forges even stronger ties” with the United Kingdom and the US.
“AUKUS is a once-in-a-generation moment for South Australia, and I am determined to ensure we maximise every single opportunity,” Malinauskas said.
“I want the key industry leaders and decision-makers in the United States to be clear that South Australia is serious about maximising every available opportunity out of this program – and we are committed for the long term.”
It was announced in March this year that Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines would be constructed in South Australia by Adelaide-based ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems.
Construction on the first submarine will begin by the end of the decade.
In March 2023 Malinauskas visited the United Kingdom, where he toured the Barrow-in-Furness submarine shipyard which will construct the first British AUKUS submarine.
The SSN-AUKUS submarines will eventually be operated by both the UK and Australian navies, with the UK set to commence construction of its first submarine in the late 2020s.
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Former premier Steven Marshall visited France in 2018 as part of Australia’s $90 billion submarine deal with France, for the construction of Australia’s future submarines.
In 2021 when the AUKUS framework was announced, the French partnership was scrapped.
Early this month the countries involved in AUKUS released a joint statement saying they were considering working with Japan under their advanced capability projects.
