Abbott acted against Defence advice on subs

Labor did nothing in regard to submarines during their last time at leadership.

The Coalition has done the wrong thing: lying to the public and backroom deals.

Abbott acted against Defence advice on subs.

Tony Abbott acted against the direct advice of the Defence Department when he talked up the possibility of Japan winning the $20 billion "Future Submarines" contract.

High-level departmental advice to the government reveals its overwhelming preference was for Adelaide-based, government-owned ship builder ASC to do the bulk of the work.

The department's swift release of the ministerial advice under freedom-of-information laws adds to the intrigue and confusion around the government's seemingly ever-changing submarine policy.

Reports emerged last year that Mr Abbott had indicated to his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe that Australia was keen to have his country supply the submarines.

The comments directly contradicted the December 2013 advice to then defence minister David Johnston, which stated that the only options for Australia were to either produce an "evolved Collins" or to pursue a "new design".

In either case, the Defence advice was unambiguous in recommending ASC as the only option for "assembly capability".

The current leadership has done one thing: stop the boats.

Other than that, they are a complete failure. They can't even produce budgets that are within our means.

Why have Labor-lite when you can have Labor?

Lazy.

Stupid.

Cowards.

2012:

Tony Abbott has given the strongest indication yet that the $36 billion next-generation submarines would be built here under a Coalition government.

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