THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

STATEMENT
LABOR’S MISMANAGEMENT OF COLLINS PUTS AUSTRALIA AT RISK

Monday 17 March 2025

The Albanese Government’s shambolic handling of Defence continues, with revelations that Labor is secretly scaling back the Collins-class submarine life-of-type extension (LOTE) program.

Labor’s failure in its handling of our Collins submarine program follows a flotilla of People’s Liberation Army warships circumnavigating Australia, disrupting commercial flight paths with live-firing exercises.

Australia’s submarine capability is degrading under Labor, at a critical time in our strategic circumstances.

Just weeks ago, Defence Minister Richard Marles assured Australians that the LOTE program was “doable”, and that the government was “going to be really smart and really clever in the way in which we do it.”

This was backed up in Senate Estimates, with officials confirming it was still the government’s intention to conduct a life-of-type extension on all six submarines.

Labor has seemingly kept its “LOTE lite” revised upgrade plan hidden from Australians at a critically challenging time in our strategic circumstances.

This is more tricky politics from this dishonest Albanese Government.

Under Labor, critical projects like the LOTE program are suffering due to more than $80 billion of cuts, delays and cannibalisation in Defence.

How can we trust Labor to deliver AUKUS to schedule if they can’t manage our own Collins submarine program?

The Albanese Government simply cannot be trusted with Australia’s defence and national security.

Only a Dutton-led Coalition Government can get Defence back on track.

[ENDS]