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Behind the Lines

Sparkling Submersibles

A submarine is celebrated with flags and a parade. A man run towards a person about to break a bottle on the sub saying, 'Stoooop! That's French champagne!' Text reads 'Moments before "the incident"'.

Jon Kudelka
18 September 2021

A headline-making diplomatic rift began to unfold in September. Australia cancelled a $90-billion contract with France to build 12 diesel-powered submarines. The French Ambassador was recalled to Paris and President Macron said trust had been broken. Australia stood by its decision to purchase nuclear-powered submarines through its new agreement with the United Kingdom and the United States.

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The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges Australia's First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We respectfully acknowledge the role that First Nations people continue to play in shaping Australia's democracy. We also acknowledge the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the region in which MoAD is located.

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