Australia to Buy Three Second-Hand US Submarines Under New AUKUS Deal

Defence minister Richard Marles insists the new AUKUS deal that will see Australia buy three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US isn't just a better outcome, it's what the government wanted all along.

Marles returned yesterday from his trip to Singapore over the weekend, where he met US War Secretary Pete Hegseth and announced the change to the AUKUS pact.

Australia was going to buy two second-hand submarines in 2032 and 2035, with about 20 years of life remaining in them, and one brand new one in 2038.

Speaking to a 'Defending Australia' summit in Canberra last night, he argued that was at the insistence of the US.

He said Australia has always wanted three second-hand submarines because of the simplicity of operating three identical submarines, but until now the US was only offering a third new submarine — which would have significant differences to the others.

"Our preference actually from the outset would have been to have 'in service' submarines, because what it would mean was that we were operating a consistent class of submarines which would provide consistency for our submariners and for those maintaining the submarines," he said.

"It's not what was then available in terms of the sustainment and production schedule that America had to offer."

It's the same argument the new Defence secretary, Meghan Quinn, put to Senate estimates last night — drawing an incredulous response from Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson.

Australia is pushing for a new treaty with Solomon Islands as the Pacific nation's new Prime Minister Matthew Wale visits Canberra.

Wale will hold talks with Anthony Albanese and top foreign affairs officials in Canberra as he kicks off his first overseas trip since seizing the top job last month.

The visit will come against the backdrop of a sometimes fierce strategic contest between China and Australia in Solomon Islands — which signed a controversial security agreement with Beijing in 2022.

It's still the only formal security pact that China has managed to land across the Pacific.

But Australia spots a golden opportunity to push back under Mr Wale. The new prime minister sharply criticised China from opposition when the security pact was signed, although he's since softened his position.

The federal government has already publicly signalled it wants to negotiate a comprehensive treaty with Solomon Islands, and clearly hopes Wale will agree to kickstart that process during this visit.

It's not yet clear whether Wale is willing to take Australia up on that offer but he and his senior ministers have already been in detailed discussions with Australian officials — both last week in Honiara and yesterday in Canberra.

That suggest that the idea — at the very least — is being very seriously considered.