Labor has a proud history of debate. So why won't it interrogate the $368bn Aukus pact?
News Source
β’Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:19 GMT
π° What Happened
Former Labor minister Peter Garrett has questioned why the ALP conference will not seriously debate the Aukus nuclear submarine deal. The pact, signed in 2021 by Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson, and Joe Biden, will cost Australia $368 billion. It involves building eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK technology. Despite the enormous cost, the deal is unlikely to face serious scrutiny at the Labor conference.
Garrett is leading an independent public inquiry into Aukus. He says reservations about the pact have not gone away. The deal was made in secret by the previous government and accepted by the incoming Albanese government. Critics argue that the cost has ballooned and that the project may not deliver what was promised.
π The Backstory
Aukus was announced in 2021 as a major defense partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US. The centerpiece was the plan to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. The deal replaced a previous $90 billion agreement to buy French submarines. Canceling the French deal cost Australia $5 billion in compensation.
Supporters say Aukus is essential for Australia's security in the face of China's growing military power. Critics say it is too expensive, ties Australia too closely to US foreign policy, and takes money away from other priorities. The Albanese government has fully backed the deal, but some Labor members and the public have concerns. The independent inquiry led by Garrett aims to provide more transparency.
π― Why It Matters
Aukus will cost every Australian thousands of dollars in tax money. Whether you support submarines or not, this is the biggest defense spending decision in Australia's history.
Former Labor minister Peter Garrett has questioned why the ALP conference will not seriously debate the Aukus nuclear submarine deal. The pact, signed in 2021 by Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson, and Joe Biden, will cost Australia $368 billion. It involves building eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK technology. Despite the enormous cost, the deal is unlikely to face serious scrutiny at the Labor conference.
Garrett is leading an independent public inquiry into Aukus. He says reservations about the pact have not gone away. The deal was made in secret by the previous government and accepted by the incoming Albanese government. Critics argue that the cost has ballooned and that the project may not deliver what was promised.
Aukus was announced in 2021 as a major defense partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US. The centerpiece was the plan to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. The deal replaced a previous $90 billion agreement to buy French submarines. Canceling the French deal cost Australia $5 billion in compensation.
Supporters say Aukus is essential for Australia's security in the face of China's growing military power. Critics say it is too expensive, ties Australia too closely to US foreign policy, and takes money away from other priorities. The Albanese government has fully backed the deal, but some Labor members and the public have concerns. The independent inquiry led by Garrett aims to provide more transparency.
Aukus will cost every Australian thousands of dollars in tax money. Whether you support submarines or not, this is the biggest defense spending decision in Australia's history.