Scott Morrison said he pushed to ensure the AUKUS deal with the US and UK included other defence technology, as well as the nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr Morrison, who as prime minister negotiated the deal which was announced in September 2021, said it became clear that it would agreement was needed on more than submarine nuclear technology.
“We don’t want to have to go and do this every single time we’re trying to jointly develop a capability,” he told ABC TV’s 7.30 program on Tuesday.
“I think this is going to be a tremendous opportunity trilaterally, not just the governments but the private sector of the defence industries in each of these countries getting closer.”
On Tuesday, Mr Morrison’s successor Anthony Albanese, alongside UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden announced the historic AUKUS deal, which will cost between $268bn and $368bn by the 2050s.
The program will feature at least three submarines to be purchased from the US, upgrades to extend the life of the existing fleet, with at least five UK-designed vessels with US-technology to be built in Adelaide by the 2040s.
The agreement also includes cooperation between the three nations on other advanced defence technology, such as hypersonic missiles and undersea drones.
Mr Morrison said Tuesday’s announcement was what he had envisaged.
“What we saw announced today on the submarines was the instinct, intent and ambition, if you like – and it is ambitious, but I think necessarily so.”
He said the rise of China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific had pushed the need for an AUKUS agreement.“The goal here … it was providing an enduring strategic counter-balance. To achieve that, you need these capabilities.”
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