Axing of $90b French submarine project 'should have happened sooner': Rex Patrick

Описание: Independent Senator Rex Patrick has welcomed the axing of Australia's $90 billion French submarine deal but says it "should have been done sooner".

The $90 billion dollar deal for French attack-class submarines has been scrapped in favour of a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines amid the forming of the AUKUS alliance.

Mr Patrick says the French submarine deal was "$40 billion over budget" and running behind schedule.

"It wasn't meeting our objectives in terms of industry involvement and it was unlikely to deliver a regionally superior submarine," he told Sky News host Paul Murray.

"And so I welcome the news that the government has pulled the shutters down on this."