The subs are an insurance policy for our heavily trade-dependent economy. We need to be able to project monitoring and intelligence gathering over a very large

The subs are an insurance policy for our heavily trade-dependent economy. We need to be able to project monitoring and intelligence gathering over a very large part of the world - including the key trade routes near to us that no less than a half-dozen nations are currently posturing over. That is the reason we went from 6 submarines to 12. Considering our size, our island status, the nations we are surrounded by etc. our 1.8% of GDP spent on defense is a bargain in international terms (we rank past 50th on that scale) As for building the next-generation sub in South Australia - stimulating an economy that has been disproportionately impacted by the decline in manufacturing has to take precedence over the relationship between two prime ministers (which is the dumbest possible reason to spend $50 billion). Hopefully the investment will not only avoid queues at welfare offices (likely to cost more over time - especially with pension and healthcare obligations) but could lead to the development of next-generation industries, including the first local lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant.