Public Inquiry Urges End to Aukus Submarine Deal

A comprehensive public inquiry into the $368 billion Aukus nuclear submarine agreement has delivered a scathing verdict, describing the pact as the worst, riskiest, and most costly defense decision ever made by an Australian government. The report, released on November 4, 2026, calls for the immediate termination of the deal, which was originally signed by the former Morrison government with the United Kingdom and the United States.

The inquiry was led by former Labor MP and musician Peter Garrett and former Chief of Defence Admiral Chris Barrie. The panel was composed primarily of critics of the agreement. Their findings recommend suspending plans for new military bases and establishing a royal commission to further examine the terms of the deal. The report, titled Surrendering Australia: the Aukus Deception, argues that the presence of powerful nuclear submarines risks dragging Australia into military conflict with China.

According to the authors, the agreement significantly undermines Australian sovereignty and weakens the country's long-standing commitments to nuclear non-proliferation. The inquiry urges a fundamental recalibration of Australia's relationship with Beijing and suggests a complete rework of the second pillar of the agreement, which focuses on technology and defense capability sharing.

Garrett stated that the Labor government had failed to conduct a thorough review of this significant defense agreement since taking power. He noted that the deal was conceived in secret, bypassing established parliamentary oversight practices. During a presentation at the National Press Club in Canberra, he warned that the Stirling defense precinct in Perth could become a de facto US base, hosting up to 2,000 serving American personnel. He further claimed that nearby communities, including Rockingham and Fremantle, would become targets for attack.

Admiral Barrie, who served as Chief of Defence from 1998 to 2002, emphasized the need for immediate action. He described the submarine plan as untenable and urged the government to scrap it now to rebuild national security decision-making processes. The inquiry highlighted a lack of scrutiny over the five years since the agreement was announced and called for independent reviews by the auditor general and the federal parliament.

The Labor party originally agreed to support the deal, which was negotiated under Prime Minister Scott Morrison, then-US President Joe Biden, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Under the current terms, Australia is funding upgrades to the US defense industrial base and expects to begin receiving secondhand Virginia class nuclear submarines around 2032. However, delays and cost overruns in US Navy production have raised doubts about whether Australia will receive these in-service boats.

While the UK parliament conducted a year-long review and US President Donald Trump agreed to support the deal following a Pentagon inquiry in 2025, opposition remains strong. Former Prime Ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull, along with former Foreign Ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr, believe the agreement is not in Australia's national interest. Environmental and security campaigners, as well as some members of the Labor party, share this view.

Garrett warned that there are no guarantees the US will eventually send the submarines, noting that there are no refunds or enforceable obligations on partner countries if things go wrong. The inquiry estimates an additional $180 billion will be required to manage nuclear waste. Australia has yet to identify a permanent storage site for the high-level radioactive waste generated by the fleet, which will remain toxic for thousands of years.

The government currently estimates the total cost of the deal at 0.15% of GDP over its lifetime. The first Virginia-class nuclear submarine is scheduled to arrive in Australia in 2032, with subsequent vessels arriving every four years. This interim period will last until the bespoke Australian-built SSN Aukus model is ready for operations, which is projected for 2042.