Australia sinks $100 billion on submarines
Australia's new fleet of submarines is estimated to cost taxpayers $100 billion until 2080.
French shipbuilder Naval Group has the $50 billion contract to design the 12 submarines, which will be built in Adelaide.
Defence department officials told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday the maintenance costs are expected to be $50 billion over the next 60 years.
The first steel for the Australian submarines is expected to be cut by 2022, with the first vessels due to enter service in the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, the department is investigating allegations raised in the media that submarine contractors had been engaging other contractors without getting the department's sign-off.
"I regard it as totally unacceptable," Defence Minister Marise Payne said.
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