AUKUS, no thanks

READERS with headspace to get past interest rate and price inflation, and the endless housing debate may recall AUKUS.

Our government preaches it’s the jewel in our defence planning, and the opposition (who dreamed it up) of course agree. Devised, in rough terms, over six years, it’s the (very) expensive answer to our defence needs until mid-century. Payments, infrastructure planning and training have begun. Up to eight long-range, nuclear-powered but conventionally-armed submarines – some to be built here – will be based on our coasts, east and west. US vessels will use these bases too.

Additional sabre-rattling includes US B52 bomber and US combat unit training rotation through the NT; big new US storage, inc. weaponry, in Australia; and extensive merger of Australian personnel with

US forces, and enhanced intelligence-sharing, inc. Pine Gap and NW Cape bases.

This must be serious, right? We’re told an aggressive, expansionist China threatens and – as in WW2 – ‘we’ve got to face reality and stick with friends who’ve got the tech know-how we need.’

Happy with that? Actually, we’re not. Not at all. We are so concerned that a small group of locals joined Anti-AUKUS Victoria, a non-party coalition, last year.

We think the est. $368b. price tag (that’s $14,000 for each Australian) could be much better spent (name your priority that badly needs funding).

We believe there are many serious unanswered questions about AUKUS: Does China, our biggest trading partner, actually threaten Australia? Is this the sort of defence and military alliance that we need – or should co-operative and diplomatic initiatives in our region lead? We should build on what we’ve done at the ASEAN summit in Melbourne recently. That’s security too!

Many former Australian leaders, political and military, see this program as risky, from future US leadership to tech capacity here. We see Australia’s sovereignty as seriously compromised by the deep integration planned with US war-fighting preparations. Then there’s the several nuclear dimensions: on these, and on the numerous other steps already taken to commit to AUKUS there has been no election or parliamentary debate. Zero. Under the radar.

Both Morrison and Albanese have added unnecessary political secrecy to the inevitable military limits.

But that’s enough from us. We want to hear your doubts about this whole AUKUS project. With friends, we hope to spread the word locally this weekend, when events across Australia are planned. If you’re worried about AUKUS, you should be involved. Please message noaukusSG@gmail.com with your concerns!

Ken Blackman, Inverloch