Former environment minister Peter Garrett will head an independent inquiry into the Aukus defence pact, launched by a group of Labor veterans and public figures who argue the $368bn plan has never received proper scrutiny. The five-month community-based investigation begins Tuesday, with public hearings and written submissions, and will deliver a final report by 30 October.
Garrett, also known as the Midnight Oil frontman and longtime environmental campaigner, will serve as lead commissioner. The inquiry is convened under the Australian Peace and Security Forum and will consider whether the submarines can be delivered on time and on budget, how nuclear waste will be managed, and if Australia's defence and strategic interests are well served by the deal.
Garrett has previously criticised Aukus, calling the plan “the most costly and risky action ever taken by any Australian government”. He said the inquiry is “doing the job that a proper parliamentary inquiry should be doing”, noting that other countries have held reviews but Australia has not.
The inquiry will also examine nuclear non-proliferation issues, employment and environmental consequences, and the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region. It is supported by trade unions and non-profit organisations.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Sunday that Australia will buy three secondhand American Virginia-class submarines instead of at least one new vessel, citing a “premium on simplicity”. The first submarine is due in 2032, with Australian-built models expected by 2042. Australia has yet to identify a permanent storage site for nuclear waste from the fleet.
