SMH · Matthew Knott, Lisa Visentin · Sunday 31 May 2026
Australia was expected to buy a mix of new and used submarines from the US, but now the vessels will all be used boats.
We ordered new boats, Washington's decided we'll take the trade-ins, and Marles is on the wharf spruiking the savings. There's a word for a buyer who lets the seller pick the goods, set the price, and still walks away grateful — and it isn't 'customer'. Talleyrand fleeced the great powers from a position of weakness. We can't even fleece the bloke we're paying.