Former Labor foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has described the Aukus nuclear submarine pact as one of the worst defence and foreign policy decisions ever made by an Australian government. Speaking at an independent public inquiry into the $368 billion agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, Evans warned that the deal effectively extends the American military fleet and paints a target on Australia in the event of a conflict.
Evans Criticises Extended Nuclear Deterrence
Evans, who served as foreign minister from 1988 to 1996 under prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, told the inquiry that the belief the United States would defend Australia in an existential attack is a 'ludicrous delusion.' He argued that no future US administration would sacrifice San Francisco for Sydney or Miami for Melbourne. According to Evans, the US would only assist if its own assets on Australian soil were threatened.
Doubts Over Submarine Delivery
The former minister expressed scepticism about the delivery of three Virginia-class submarines from the US starting in 2032, citing construction delays and existing shortages in the American fleet. He also described the second phase of Aukus—the UK-designed, Australian-built Aukus class submarines—as requiring 'heroic levels of optimism,' given the UK's defence-industrial base is under stress, with tightening schedules and increasing costs.
Evans noted that Australia's $4.5 billion commitment over ten years to boost UK production rates may not be sufficient. He described the government's expected price tag for the deal as 'wholly speculative' and argued that the US would view the submarines as supplementary assets, effectively embedded into US military command, for tracking and destroying Chinese submarines that pose a risk to the US mainland.
Nuclear Proliferation and Waste Concerns
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, co-founder of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, told the inquiry that Aukus would exacerbate regional tensions and make Australia a higher priority target, including for nuclear attack. He highlighted the use of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to power the submarines, which undermines global non-proliferation efforts.
Ruff also raised concerns about the management of hundreds of kilograms of high-level radioactive waste, noting that no country has resolved this problem. He warned that the waste would require high security for thousands of years to prevent it from being used to build nuclear weapons. Ruff criticised Australia's poor track record of imposing radioactive waste facilities on unwilling communities, calling the potential for the Commonwealth to declare land as defence territory a profound concern for democracy and governance.
Inquiry and Political Reactions
The public inquiry, which is not a parliamentary process, is backed by trade unions and the Australian Peace and Security Forum. Commissioners include former Labor minister Peter Garrett and former defence chief Chris Barrie. Current Labor ministers have accused the inquiry of being anti-Aukus from the outset.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the agreement, stating that the submarine capability is central to assuring Australian sovereignty in a more contested world. She acknowledged the project's challenges but insisted it is necessary. The UK government has confirmed that the first steel for the newly built joint submarines will be cut next year, despite Britain's existing submarine program running years behind targets and billions over budget.
Labor is pushing back on criticism, including from its own MPs, ahead of the party's national conference in Adelaide next month. The inquiry will hold public hearings around the country before delivering a report in October.
