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AAP
AAP
Politics
Tim Dornin

SA Libs want parliamentary committee to oversee AUKUS

David Speirs wants a joint parliamentary committee to keep on top of the AUKUS submarine project. (Roy Vandervegt/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The South Australian opposition will seek to establish a joint parliamentary committee to keep on top of the AUKUS submarine project and ensure continued bipartisan support.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said such a committee would "set the tone" for a bipartisan working relationship in the decades to come.

"The opportunity before us because of AUKUS cannot be overstated and we know, if handled correctly, South Australians and our economy will benefit for generations to come," Mr Speirs said.

"That's why we want to see a bipartisan parliamentary joint committee established to keep on top of the build, but to also best prepare South Australia for the huge journey ahead and to ensure we get everything we can out of this opportunity."

Under the AUKUS pact, Australia will spend up to $368 billion to acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines.

The first three will be Virginia-class subs bought from the US, before construction starts on a new UK design from about 2042.

Most of the construction work on the new models will be done in specially built facilities in Adelaide.

Mr Speirs said SA's joint parliamentary committee could consider a range of issues, including how to ensure all submarines were delivered on schedule, and the role to be played by local companies.

In comments to state parliament this week, Premier Peter Malinauskas said the success of AUKUS would require ongoing bipartisanship.

"The honest truth is of course this project is going to outlast the life of this government, but it will outlast the life of the next one too, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that," he said.

"This is a 100-year project."

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