If success or failure falls at the feet of that moron Rudd, we’re doomed.
Smug git is probably more appropriate. Rudd may be many things, not sure moron is the right fit. IMO I think Rudd is a very valuable card, because he understand how serious the situation is, the view that provides to the American cousins is Australia sees reality and isn't in some European marshmallow land.
Rudd is the ambassador, he isn't going to start welding submarines together. Rudd is a diplomat and a China expert, he holds significant sway in that area. He is absolutely lobbying very hard for western nations to increase military capabilities to deter China. His original 2009 white paper was where 12 subs came from. Rudd has never seemed to have any wheelbarrow to push on the sub platform itself. It was just about capability.
Again, looking at the tea leaves. The Submarines will need to be built here, there was never any other option. The fuel and reactor may need to be built here, completely (mined, refined, enriched, manufactured etc). Neither the US nor the UK have any excess capacity, both are looking for low cost ways that could allow repair and refurbishment options without establishing a whole new yard themselves, which may be beyond their own capabilities. Both the US and UK have their own issues.
Australia's disastrous military procurement, particularly relating to ship building and doubling on the political footballing on the submarines is toxic, to everyone. First we did Collins, and we set ourselves on fire, with some help from the swedes, who also set themselves on fire. The mass public partisan tearing apart began. Then with Sea1000, We dragged the Japanese out of their shell, then publically set them on fire. Then we engaged the French, had a massive public domestic after a few years, then set them on fire after setting a giant pile of money on fire.
Any public voicing about stealing SSN off the US/USN either from their production line or their current fleet will get them clamming up. Even speculation about US basing is going to annoy them, as that is a decision for them.
The reality is Australia needs to commit to building them here, maintaining them here, and using crews, from here. We need to demonstrate that to them. That isn't a Rudd problem, that is a problem here in Australia for the government, the opposition, industry and the ADF. If we fail to do that, no SSN for Australia. The blame will be local. No amount of diplomating will be able to address the fundamental issues.
From the American perspective, Australia needs to significantly grow its navy, surface and subs. It needs to grow its industry, civilian and domestic. Any burden on SSN subs needs to be on Australia, not the US, the US has its own issues. This issue is hugely important for the US. We are poking our fingers into their holiest places, uninvited.