What are the Aukus submarines actually for? It’s a question the government refuses to answer | Chris Barrie
News Source
•Wed, 04 Nov 2026 02:30:21 GMT
📰 What Happened
Former defence force chief Chris Barrie says the government has never explained what Australia's Aukus submarines are for. He sat on the public inquiry into the deal and says the government and opposition refused to give evidence. No one from Defence appeared either.
Barrie says the project could cost more than $368bn by the mid-2050s. He argues nuclear submarines are built for hunting other submarines and escorting US carrier groups, not for most tasks Australia needs. He wants the plan scrapped and a properly tested replacement for the Collins class.
🔍 The Backstory
Aukus is a 2021 pact between Australia, the UK and the US. Under it, Australia will buy and later help build nuclear-powered submarines. It is the most expensive defence project in Australian history and stretches across decades.
The public inquiry heard from citizens rather than officials. People asked about nuclear waste, the rotation of US and UK submarines through Western Australia, and why Australia pays to expand shipyards overseas. Barrie says an assertion is not an explanation.
🎯 Why It Matters
This is the biggest bill in Australian defence history, paid by taxpayers for decades. Voters deserve to know what the money is meant to buy.
Former defence force chief Chris Barrie says the government has never explained what Australia's Aukus submarines are for. He sat on the public inquiry into the deal and says the government and opposition refused to give evidence. No one from Defence appeared either.
Barrie says the project could cost more than $368bn by the mid-2050s. He argues nuclear submarines are built for hunting other submarines and escorting US carrier groups, not for most tasks Australia needs. He wants the plan scrapped and a properly tested replacement for the Collins class.
Aukus is a 2021 pact between Australia, the UK and the US. Under it, Australia will buy and later help build nuclear-powered submarines. It is the most expensive defence project in Australian history and stretches across decades.
The public inquiry heard from citizens rather than officials. People asked about nuclear waste, the rotation of US and UK submarines through Western Australia, and why Australia pays to expand shipyards overseas. Barrie says an assertion is not an explanation.
This is the biggest bill in Australian defence history, paid by taxpayers for decades. Voters deserve to know what the money is meant to buy.