The Federal Opposition has called on the Government to make sure a suitable onshore location is found for a former Navy submarine that is rusting in Melbourne’s Western Port.

The Otama was the last Oberon submarine built for the Australian Navy.

Since 2002, the Western Port Oberon Association has been trying to get permission from authorities to bring the decommissioned sub ashore for use as a military museum.

The Federal Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, says it is now time the Federal Government intervenes.

“Peter Garrett and the Federal Government must step in to push the Victorian Government to prepare a solution for the HMAS Otama submarine,” he said.

“This was a Commonwealth submarine gifted to the people of Victoria which has been trapped by state bureaucracy for six years now.”

The Western Port Oberon Association tried to sell the submarine on eBay for just under $5 million, but there were no bids.