Media Release
For the first time, the Australian community will have the opportunity to investigate the controversial and secretive AUKUS defence pact. Today, five esteemed Australians will launch a nationwide Public Inquiry into AUKUS at Parliament House, Canberra. From diverse backgrounds and disciplines, but united in their commitment to transparency, democracy and the defence of Australia, Peter Garrett, Carmen Lawrence, Chris Barrie, Leanne Minshull and Karina Lester will head the public inquiry into AUKUS beginning today. Full Commissioner profiles can be viewed here.
There has never been a more critical time to get the truth about AUKUS and what it means for our nation. The Federal Government is planning to spend $368 billion-plus of our taxes on nuclear-powered submarines – the largest defence spend in our history – without answers to basic questions such as: will Australia receive the submarines we’re paying for on time and on budget; where will the high-level nuclear waste generated by the subs be stored; how many Australian jobs will be created and at what cost, and crucially, will this project keep us safe – or turn us into a nuclear target?
Lead Commissioner Peter Garrett said:
“AUKUS is by far the most expensive and complex undertaking ever entered into by any Australian Government and yet the opportunity to question, debate and decide has been taken out of the hands of the parliament and the people. A Public Inquiry into this massive spend of taxpayer’s money is long overdue.”
Commissioner Admiral (Retd) Chris Barrie AC said:
“As Chief of the Defence Force in the late 90s and early 2000s, I investigated the proposition of acquiring nuclear powered submarines for Australia but there was little interest in it then and we all need to know why suddenly, there is huge interest, secrecy and money available for the AUKUS submarines today. That’s what this Inquiry is for.”
Commissioner Dr Carmen Lawrence said:
“A basic requirement of any functioning democracy is transparency from our Government. It is simply not credible that the Federal Government can take nearly $400 billion from the Australian people, make private deals with US and UK technology companies and foreign governments to access the Australian mainland and our data, and then tell us not to ask questions. Australians would never accept that, and nor should we. That’s why this Inquiry is vital.”
Yankunytjatjara woman and Commissioner Karina Lester said:
“For decades Aboriginal people of this country have had nuclear weapons tested on our traditional lands, we have been pressured to be the solution to nuclear waste. Our traditional lands have been mined on and our communities continually pressured by an industry that has harmed us for generations. What is Australia’s plan to manage the nuclear waste under this AUKUS Agreement? Will Australia be taking in nuclear waste from the UK and the US under this agreement? We fear it will be our mobs and our countries that is expected to take it. And once again, no one has bothered to talk to us. We have the lived experience and that’s why First Nations voices are crucial to this Public Inquiry.”
Commissioner Leanne Minshull said:
“The projected cost of $368 billion for AUKUS is hard to conceptualise. Think about Australia’s biggest wealth fund, set up in 2006. After 20 years of squirreling away money and banking investment returns, the future fund is now worth $337 billion. The cost of AUKUS would wipe out these generational savings and then some. If we are to spend the equivalent of our national savings, on a single project, the benefit needs to be clear and overwhelming. What won’t we be able to fund? How many jobs will be created from this project? Where will those jobs be? In a tight labour market, how will those jobs be filled? Will they divert skills from other national priorities like building residential homes? Will these jobs be the worst targeted, most expensive in Australian history?”
This nation-wide inquiry into AUKUS will seek answers to a number of critical questions. The Terms of Reference can be found here and the website here. The Inquiry will be taking written submissions and conducting hearings across Australia.
Readers may be interested in these AIMN articles on AUKUS:
Blind and Deaf to AUKUS: Australian Planners and Elusive Submarines
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All excellent questions, which Australians should have the answers to.
AUKUS, Pine Gap and other US bases in Australia makes Australia a bigger prime first strike target rather then the US. Australia will look like how the Gulf States look today.
As noted in another AIMN article, Retched Mediocrity has failed the Australian people with his refusal to enforce the original Scummo contract to supply three (3) NEW BUILD USUKA subs ….. because the contract biased heavily in favour of the American sub building industry now had the USA (Undemocratic Sewer of Apartheid) in a fundamental breach that went to the root of the contract.
As former lawyer, RM should have recognised this Contracts 101 breach and demanded that the USA pay damages plus at least return the huge amounts already paid. Then those funds could be expended on resources and services for Australian voters rather than being a vassalage payment to the TACO Trumpery regime.
It is bad enough that Scummo used his position to impose the USUKA sub debacle on Australian voters to gain a post-political corporate ”advisory” position at enormous profit to himself. However, to have another yankophile, this time a ”senior” LABOR Minister, scam the Australian voters because he conveniently ”forgot” both his legal training and his first responsibility to the Australian public is simply disgusting, and IMHO a treasonable offence.
Accurate comment from
NEC.
I believe a party promising to cancel this terrible USUKA will win the next election
Richard Marles: three second hand subs ( again, on the never never) will save us money. Not committing us to the whole USUKA debacle would save USA whole lot more. Put simply Marles,
Albo and the Defence heads supporting this deal are basically traitors. They have no right to commit future generations of Australians to this outrageous expense. I look forward to the outcome of this inquiry. About bloody time.