Former Australian environment minister Peter Garrett has launched a crowd-funded inquiry into the A$368 billion ($239 billion) Aukus submarine deal, the largest defense project in the nation’s history. According to bbc.com, the independent review aims to scrutinize the agreement, which involves Australia purchasing second-hand U.S. submarines to modernize its fleet.
Garrett, who served in the cabinet from 2007 to 2010 and is known as the frontman of the rock band Midnight Oil, described the inquiry as "long overdue." He argued that the scale of the financial commitment is unprecedented, yet the public and Parliament have been sidelined from the decision-making process. "The chance to question, debate and decide has been taken out of the hands of the parliament and the people," Garrett stated, as reported by the outlet.
The inquiry will feature public hearings and is expected to publish its findings in October. Garrett will lead a panel of four commissioners, including former Australian Defence Force chief Admiral Chris Barrie and former Western Australian premier Carmen Lawrence. The panel also includes Karen Lester, the daughter of an Aboriginal man affected by British nuclear testing in the 1950s.
Examining the strategic and financial impact
The review, organized by the non-profit Australian Peace and Security Forum, has garnered support from independent MPs David Pocock and Andrew Wilkie, along with various military veterans and human rights lawyers. The inquiry intends to investigate whether the nuclear-powered submarines will actually enhance national safety and how the procurement will affect Australia’s standing in regional security.
Key areas of investigation include the management of nuclear waste, the potential impact on Australia's sovereignty, and the future of the nation's relationship with China, its primary trading partner. The original 2021 agreement was widely viewed as a move to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, a rationale that Beijing previously condemned as "extremely irresponsible."
The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained a neutral stance on the review. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister stated that the government welcomes "appropriate oversight and transparency" regarding the project, according to bbc.com.
Recent government adjustments to the deal include a shift toward buying three second-hand submarines from the U.S. rather than focusing solely on new vessels. Additionally, the pact allows for a small number of U.S. and UK nuclear submarines to be based in Perth, Western Australia, starting in 2027. Both the UK and the U.S. have conducted their own internal reviews of the pact since 2024.
