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PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has told the Lowy Institute that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the latest example of an authoritarian regime looking to undermine the rules-based system of international order in a "new arc of autocracy".
As foreshadowed earlier, Mr Morrison confirmed Newcastle as one of three sites being considered for an east coast submarine base, along with Brisbane and Port Kembla.
But the decision on the location of the base would not be made until after the federal election, probably next year, leading Labor and others to criticise the timing of the announcement as an election ploy.
In a speech livestreamed from where Mr Morrison was in isolation with COVID, the prime minister said he would be speaking with the NSW and Queensland governments about progress from here, and stressed that all three sites had the relevant criteria needed to support the new base, which would be additional to existing capability and not relocation of existing West Coast facilities.
Mr Morrison said national security affected all Australians and his government would not shy away from its belief in a system where "might does not make right".
Answering a question, Mr Morrison said he had been listening for the voice of the Chinese government to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
But what he heard was "a chilling silence", followed by the news China was "throwing Russia an economic lifeline" by easing restrictions on wheat exports, which he said "just jars on the broader international interest".
He said China had long claimed to be a contributor to global peace and stability.
He said "no country (beyond China) will have a bigger impact on ending the war, but while they had an "each-way bet the blood shed would continue".
Asked his prediction of the outcome in Ukraine, Mr Morrison said he expected prolonged Ukrainian resistance to grow over time, adding that "any gains will be very hard to hold".
He said his government's view was that the world should impose "the heavist possible price, for as long as possible, to deter any other autocrat going down a similar path".
Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is scheduled to address the Lowy Institute on Thursday to give Labor's view of Australian "national security in a complex world".
EARLIER:
NEWCASTLE is one of three sites being considered for a nuclear submarine base on Australia's east coast, under a plan to be announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison
A base for Australian and visiting nuclear-powered submarines will be set up on the east coast under a plan to be announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison will tell a Lowy Institute forum today, Monday, that defence officials have been tasked with talking to the NSW and Queensland governments on setting up the multi-billion dollar base at either Brisbane, Newcastle or Port Kembla.
IN THE NEWS:
Port Kembla is understood to be the Defence Department's preferred option and Newcastle and Brisbane are on a short listed whittled down from some 19 sites.
One obvious place in Newcastle would be the former BHP steelworks site long identified as a future container terminal, with those plans being blocked by the NSW government.
Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody said the port welcomed the idea.
"We believe we are the natural choice for such a base - with RAAF Williamtown strategically close by, together with our deepwater access and proximity to Sydney, together with the port's complementary faciilities and developments - and we will actively participate in the process," Mr Carmody said.
Under the plan to be unveiled by the prime minister, Fleet Base West in Western Australia would remain home to the current Collins class and future nuclear-powered submarines, given its strategic importance on the Indian Ocean.
"(But) establishing a second submarine base on our east coast will enhance our strategic deterrent capability, with significant advantages in operational, training, personnel and industrial terms," Mr Morrison will say.
"An optimal east coast base would provide home-ported submarines with specialised wharves, maintenance facilities, administrative and logistics support, personnel amenities, and suitable accommodation for submarine crews and support staff.
"It would also enable the regular visiting of US and UK nuclear-powered submarines.
"With initial work to be completed by the end of 2023, the three potential sites have been chosen because of their proximity to industrial infrastructure, large population centres, deep water, maritime training and weapons storage and loading facilities.
Mr Morrison said more than $10 billion would be needed to meet the services and facilities needed for the shift from Collins to the nuclear-powered submarines.
The government's announcement comes after Liberal candidate for Paterson, Brooke Vitnell, called in November for the Hunter region to be involved in the construction of the new fleet of submarines Australia would need after Canberra ditched the French submarines it had previously signed contracts for.
Today, Ms Vitnell said she would "leading the charge to have the Hunter chosen as the east coast base for the submarine fleet".
"We can't afford to sit back and watch as these opportunities pass us by. We need to be putting our best case forward because both are good for our region, with the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs and inject billions of dollars into our region," Ms Vitnell said.
"If we are serious about further diversifying our local economy then the opportunities that exist for our region through the acquisition of our future submarine fleet are ones we should be embracing wholeheartedly."
Ms Vitnell said she also recognised community concerns about nuclear technology and said any proposal would need to recognise these "legitimate safety concerns".
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Sunday he expected a decision "within the next couple of months" on whether a British or American submarine design will be used for the AUKUS submarines. He was confident the first of the submarines could be acquired "much sooner" than 2040.
The massive project comes as Australia faces what Mr Morrison describes as its most "difficult and dangerous security environment in 80 years".
The government is lifting defence spending to almost 2.1 per cent of GDP this year, with $578 billion planned to be spent over the next decade.
The prime minister will tell the forum the "unprovoked, unjust and illegal war" launched by Russia in Ukraine was a sign of a "new arc of autocracy" seeking to challenge and reset the world order.
"We face the spectre of a transactional world, devoid of principle, accountability and transparency," he says.
UKRAINIAN WAR:
The implications of the Ukraine crisis would not only be felt in Europe but inevitably stretch to the Indo-Pacific.
"Militarisation is expanding and evolving rapidly," Mr Morrison says.
"Australia seeks to work with all countries to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous region - however, we cannot be naive.
"The challenges we face continue to mount. They require us to increase our resilience, expand our capabilities and harden our defences."
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