MIN Price will retain her role as Minister for Defence Industry.

The unified role has come as Australia begins navigating the construction of the nation’s first fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

The commonwealth established a taskforce, with support from the United Kingdom and United States, to research the development of a nuclear-powered submarine capability in Australia.

Key updates on the program:

• Australia is expected to become the only non-nuclear nation to possess nuclear submarine capabilities;
• Australia, UK and US expected to undertake knowledge sharing to enable the Royal Australian Navy to attain a nuclear powered fleet, the first time such knowledge sharing has taken place in over six decades;
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that the submarines will be built in Adelaide;
• Workers ensured that their skills are still needed, and that submarine construction and sustainment remain critical priorities for the government;
• Leaders have announced the creation of new “trilateral security dialogue” with Australia, UK and US; and
• Naval Group expressed their disappointment with the decision, defending the capabilities of the Attack Class Submarine.

[Related: Defence Industry Minister rejoins cabinet]