MP urges more nuclear subs in 'battle for Australia'

Australia will acquire three Virginia class vessels and build its own SSN-AUKUS machines. (Aaron Bunch/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia will be better protected from potential invasion or stand-off attacks if the government exceeds its target and builds more nuclear submarines, a paper written by a Labor MP argues.

As part of a trilateral partnership with the US and the UK, Australia will acquire three Virginia class vessels and build its own SSN-AUKUS machines so that eight nuclear-powered submarines will be in Australian service by the 2050s.