Newcastle's place on nuclear subs base short-list means community has questions to resolve as Navy and government make their decisions

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine almost universally condemned, the Prime Minister has positioned his submarines announcement as a statement of intent to other democracies concerned about the expansion of what he calls an "autocratic arc", and the encouragement any Russian success in Ukraine could give to China on Taiwan.

As important as our defences are, the early responses to Mr Morrison's announcement raise serious questions about the AUKUS submarine project itself, as well as the timing of the announcement in the lead up to an impending federal election.

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If the rumours from Defence are correct, Port Kembla is the favoured east coast option. If so, the supposed "short list" may be as much for show as anything, meaning Hunter opponents may have little to fear from an eventual announcement.

But as Hunter Defence chair Tim Owen points out, the Hunter's existing defence and shipbuilding capabilities mean Newcastle is as well-equipped as the other two sites, if not more so, given the presence of likely key firms including BAE.

The obvious site, the deepwater former BHP steelworks land, looks well suited, especially given the pressures arraigned against a container terminal.

But for the average Novocastrian, the question is not so much the region's abilities to host the subs, but whether we want, as a community, to have a nuclear-submarine base in our midst.

As the Greens observed yesterday, Newcastle has been a nuclear-free zone since 1982, and although some would argue that Williamtown RAAF base already makes us a target should tensions ever lead to war on these shores, a Port of Newcastle submarine base would surely make us more so.

Some will say that what the Morrison government characterises as a justified hardening of defence is - along with the stance of our increasingly bellicose Defence Minister, Peter Dutton - an unnecessary antagonism of China, the nation that worries Australia the most.

The more hawkish view is that Australia has little option but to tie our flag even more closely to the US and the UK.

Thursday's response by Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will throw more light on Labor's approach to defence, and this approaching khaki election.

TODAY'S NEWS COVERAGE: Newcastle on east coast subs base short-list

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