Former Australian foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has described the Aukus nuclear submarine deal as one of the worst defence and foreign policy decisions ever made by an Australian government. Giving evidence to an independent public inquiry on Thursday, Evans said the agreement is only being permitted by US President Donald Trump to destroy Chinese nuclear threats to the US mainland.
Evans, a cabinet minister under prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, warned that the transfer and construction of submarines from the early 2030s effectively extends the American military fleet. He argued that a future US administration would not come to Australia's aid in the event of an 'existential attack' and would only assist if its own assets on Australian soil were threatened.
'The notion that extended nuclear deterrence justifies our prostration – that the US really would be prepared to sacrifice San Francisco for Sydney, let alone Miami for Melbourne – is, and always has been, a ludicrous delusion,' Evans told the inquiry. He also questioned the delivery timeline of three Virginia-class submarines from 2032, citing construction delays and shortages in the US fleet.
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 for nuclear attack. He highlighted concerns over the use of weapons-grade uranium and the unresolved issue of managing high-level radioactive waste.
The public inquiry, backed by trade unions and the Australian Peace and Security Forum, is being led by commissioners including 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. The inquiry will hold public hearings around the country before delivering a report in October.
