https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-17/us-raises-concerns-ab...
Reality is that AU needs nuclear subs for offensive deterrence againt PRC because AU has already sunk cost too much into US orbit that the only thing left is to double down.
PineGap, Geraldton, Exmouth communication hubs, US is absurdly dependent on AU facilities for Indo-Pac operations. Aforementioned facilities will 100% be targeted by PRC if US containment efforts become kinetic. Hence these subs to threaten PLAN at choke points.
It helps that AU is a steadfast historic US ally, bordering on sycophancy, but in Mearsheimer words on future PRC/US/AU dynamic, if AU picks PRC, they become US enemies. I would extend that to AU being neutral as well. US _NEEDS_ AU facilities for Indo-Pac operation the same way it needed ME oil pre-Shale. AU doesn't have a choice but to cooperate with US because “implications”.
So here we are. Overdue capabilities for AU, assuming aquisition doesn't fall through. At least 8 nuke subs that AU has even less experience building, which likely will overshoot planned delivery by 10+ years, and go massively over budget, of which 2-3 can be deployed at once. Worse case scenario, project goes nowhere, PRC gets the crown jewels of SSN technology via espionage while having shipyard designed to launch 2 nuke subs per year.