Labor backs Reith on nuclear subs

The Gillard government has voted with the Coalition in the Senate today to reject Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown's motion:

 That the Senate reject the proposal, backed by the former Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Reith, for Australia to purchase nuclear submarines serviced in the United States of America (US) or at a US base established in Australia.

 "This is a tectonic shift by Labor, if not the Coalition. It opens the way for Labor to purchase nuclear submarines and accept a US nuclear submarine base on the Australian coastline," Senator Brown said.