Sinking our future

By Melanie Sjoberg

ADELAIDE -- When the first of the new Collins class submarines was launched at the Osborne Port Facility on August 28, 40 protesters met the officially invited guests in an attempt to raise awareness about the implications for future military activities and to dispel some of the myths pedaled by Premier Lynn Arnold's government concerning the supposed boost to the state's economy.

The HMAS Collins is the first of the six Swedish-designed Collins class Type 471 submarines which the Australian Submarine Corporation began manufacturing for the Royal Australian Navy in 1989. The new sub cost $850 million.

The entire project will cost (including repair and operating costs) at least $5.4 billion, creating about 2000 jobs -- an extremely low investment to jobs ratio. Similar investment in almost any other area would produce far more jobs.

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