Majority of Australians favour a local build for next-generation submarines

Australians have strong views on where Australia’s next submarines should be built, with the latest Lowy Institute polling finding that 70% of Australian adults want the submarines ‘built mainly in Australia, even if this will cost us more’.

Only 26% say ‘the submarines should be built at the best possible price, even if this means they are mainly built overseas’.

The site of the submarine construction project has been a topic of considerable public and political debate, with pressure to involve Australian shipbuilders and labour to stimulate the domestic economy and provide jobs.    

Commenting on the results today, Dr Michael Fullilove, the Lowy Institute’s Executive Director, said: 

“This is an emphatic response from the Australian people. Most Australians clearly want the majority of this fifty billion dollar investment to be made in Australia, regardless of whether this will ultimately cost us more."

This result is drawn from the forthcoming 2016 Lowy Institute Poll, which will be released in full in June 2016. The Lowy Institute Poll is based on a nationally representative telephone survey of 1202 Australian adults conducted by market research company Fieldworks between 26 February and 15 March 2016. The Poll’s error margin is approximately +/- 2.8%. 

The question put to survey respondents was: 

‘And now about Australia’s proposed purchase of new submarines. Companies in France, Germany and Japan are in a competitive tender to build Australia’s next generation of submarines. Which statement comes closest to your personal view: the submarines should be built mainly  in Australia, even if this will cost us more … [or] … the submarines should be built at the best possible price, even if this means they are mainly built overseas?’

Table of results: