Aukus will boost Australia’s growth and stability, Morrison says ahead of election

PM Morrison, who is due to call a federal election in May, says defence manufacturing has helped to create jobs for ‘thousands’ of Australians

His comments come as Aukus leaders have expanded the pact to include the building of hypersonic missiles in addition to providing Canberra with nuclear-powered submarines

Reading Time:3 minutes

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: AAP Image via AP

Published: 7:28pm, 6 Apr 2022Updated: 7:35pm, 6 Apr 2022

As Australia gears up for a national election, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told voters the expansion of the Aukus defence pact to include the building of hypersonic missiles will ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region and boost the country’s economic security.

Morrison, who is due to call a federal election on either May 14 or 21, made the comments on Tuesday during an inspection of French defence contractor Thales’ Sydney manufacturing base, where he outlined the role defence manufacturing has played in creating jobs and propelling economic growth in Australia.

The factory visit came as the leaders of the Aukus alliance on Tuesday said they were working on developing advanced hypersonic weapons – which had been deployed by Russia in Ukraine – and counter-hypersonic weapons. They also reaffirmed their commitment towards “a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

Australian PM Scott Morrison at the Thales manufacturing base in Sydney. Photo: Twitter

Announced in September last year, the defence pact initially enabled Canberra to develop nuclear-powered submarines. It has been viewed as a platform to counter Beijing at a time China’s increasing aggressiveness in the region has rattled US allies.

“Now, our economic plan is about getting taxes down and cutting red tape … It’s also about making things in Australia, important things like they are making here at Thales with 500 employees, right here in the heart of Parramatta,” Morrison said at a press conference. “And so there is a clear link between Australia’s economic security and our defence security.”

While the Aukus partnership sank the Liberal National government’s existing diesel electric-powered submarine contract and its diplomatic ties with France, Morrison said it had in turn created “thousands and thousands of jobs”, triggering concerns of Canberra’s increased enmeshment with the industrial-military complex of generating profits from war.

Political observers say Morrison is riding on the coattails of a national budget released last week, which promised a record low unemployment rate.