By Leah Maclennan/ABC.net.au
Workers and union representatives are planning to target marginal Liberal seats in a campaign to have submarines built in South Australia.
Dozens of ASC workers have rallied outside the Osborne shipyards, protesting against plans to build the submarines overseas.Last week the Government announced Japan, France and Germany would compete for the contract as it continues its search for a potential partner.
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said he expected significant work would be undertaken in Australia, particularly during the build phase, leading to the creation of at least 500 new, high-skilled jobs.
But the workers said they did not trust promises that hundreds of jobs would be created in the process.
Pipe welder Matthew Primiero said he was not confident of keeping his job.
"There's not a good feeling at the moment," Mr Primiero said.
"We're feeling pretty gutted.
"Being a young guy here I thought I'd have a job for the future and for eventually my kids and their kids but at the moment it's looking very bleak."
Apprentice boiler maker Lexi Grzywacz said without work at ASC, she would have to leave the state.
"This is the job I want but if the future doesn't remain here then I don't really have much to keep me here in SA," Ms Grzywacz said.
"I'd probably move back interstate and I reckon I wouldn't be the only one in that situation."
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) plans to letterbox drop and doorknock in the South Australian marginal electorates of Boothby, Sturt and Hindmarsh and urge residents not to vote Liberal at the next federal election.
Boiler maker and union delegate Andrew Daniels said he hoped that would put pressure on the Federal Government to change its mind.
"In each state we target three seats and if we can make those seats change, they only need 21 seats I believe or 22 seats," he said.
"If we can knock off 10 to 12 well it's only Labor, or whoever wins Parliament, only has to win another 10 seats."
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