A public inquiry led by Peter Garrett and Admiral Chris Barrie has strongly condemned the nuclear submarine pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, urging the government to establish a royal commission. The report warns that the arrangement compromises non-proliferation pledges and risks making Australian population centers military targets by effectively turning domestic facilities into foreign bases. Additionally, the inquiry projected that handling the fleet's nuclear waste will cost an extra $180 billion, despite the nation lacking a permanent disposal location. Critics also pointed out that delays in American manufacturing cast serious doubt on whether Australia will ever r…
Key points
The agreement faces fierce criticism from high-profile figures who argue it undermines Au…: The agreement faces fierce criticism from high-profile figures who argue it undermines Australian sovereignty and risks conflict with China.
Industrial delays in American submarine production threaten the scheduled delivery of sec…: Industrial delays in American submarine production threaten the scheduled delivery of secondhand Virginia-class vessels slated for 2032.
The inquiry called for a royal commission, suspended base construction, and parliamentary…: The inquiry called for a royal commission, suspended base construction, and parliamentary reviews to examine the pact's viability.
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A public inquiry into the $368bn Aukus nuclear submarine agreement has called the plan “the worst, riskiest and most costly defence decision ever made by an Australian government”, urging its immediate termination.
Former Labor MP and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and former chief of defence Adm Chris Barrie led the inquiry dominated by critics of the deal with the UK and US, recommending the suspension of plans for new bases and for a royal commission to be held into the agreement signed by the former Morrison government.
Its report, titled Surrendering Australia: the Aukus Deception, says Australia risks being dragged into military conflict with China because of the presence of powerful nuclear submarines. Aukus badly undermines Australia’s sovereignty and undercuts longstanding commitments to nuclear non-proliferation, it says.
The report calls for a rework of the second pillar of the agreement, which covers technology and defence capability sharing, and for a fundamental recalibration of Australia’s relationship with Beijing.
After hearings around the country and more than 1,000 public submissions, the inquiry highlighted a lack of scrutiny and oversight over the…
Authorities detained former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo and two senior officers after discovering an unauthorized, wide-reaching surveillance ring that compromised the head of state's personal communications. The covert monitoring operation targeted top political leaders, journalists, and civic figures, raising severe alarms regarding compromised state security during a period of executive instability. This internal security breach has prompted the administration to weigh formal treason charges agai…
Voters in the state's 12th congressional district have elected a practicing physician who previously volunteered his medical skills in Gaza. His successful campaign emphasized healthcare access, economic inequality, and issues surrounding Palestine. With this victory, the new representative will take these platform priorities directly to Washington.
Speaking directly with CBS News, the American commander-in-chief asserted full unilateral control over the duration of the ongoing hostilities against Tehran. His remarks arrive alongside shifting diplomatic dynamics as Iran and Mecca Pact members coordinate on regional security frameworks. The stance underscores a refusal to let external geopolitical pressures dictate the final resolution of the conflict.