- by Denis Doherty
- The Guardian
- Issue #2203
The Public Inquiry met in Sydney on 10 August in the NSW Parliament. The meeting was preceded by an anti-AUKUS demonstration organised by the Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition (SAAC).
The audience were introduced to the commissioners by former AMWU Union official and former MP, Doug Cameron. The commissioners present were the Chair, Peter Garrett, Leanne Minshull – Co-CEO of The Australia Institute, former WA Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence AO, ICAN Australia Ambassador and Yankunytjatjara woman Karina Lester, and Admiral Chris Barrie AC RAN (Ret’d).
The witnesses:
Malcolm Turnbull: Malcolm Turnbull concentrated on the sovereignty issue of the AUKUS submarines, arguing that decisions on the use of the submarines would be up to the US. He railed against the sycophants in the media who enthusiastically adopted the project, and was critical of the secrecy surrounding the decision.
Turnbull also stressed that our “great ally” was not dependable and should not be trusted so completely. He expressed doubt that the submarines would ever arrive, pointing out that US manufacturing was so far behind schedule that the US could not even spare second-hand submarines.
Bob Carr: Bob Carr, one-time NSW Premier and former Foreign Minister said that as Asia and China emerge more powerfully in world it was up to Australia to disengage from the US and stop being a vassal. The US strategy would be to draw us into a war with China which would be disastrous for the country.
Carr explained that Albanese and his government had had several chances to withdraw from the agreement without antagonising the US. The first was once Albanese had gained government he could have said “this was a decision made by my predecessor and we didn’t appreciate the cost.”
Elbridge Colby the US Under-Secretary for Defence Policy did a review of the AUKUS agreement. That review was an opportunity for Albanese to withdraw. Each time Albanese has doubled down on AUKUS.
AUKUS also represents a tremendous threat to the sovereignty of the country. Whatever happens, the US has scored a submarine base in WA, paid for by the Australian taxpayer.
Warren Smith: Warren Smith representing the Martime Union of Australia stressed the necessity of trade and shipping for Australia and that the presence of nuclear-powered submarines created dangers for the maritime workers. He explained that Australia lost one in eight seamen during World War 2 and he did not want that to occur again as it would be just so much worse this time.
The dangers were present at ports and in the open ocean. Asked if there had been any communication or consultation with the union on these issues he replied, “Not only have they not approached us about AUKUS but they have not answered any of our correspondence.”
Natasha Watt: Natasha Watt as Deputy President of the NSW Teachers’ Federation explained that the Education budget will be raided to pay for AUKUS.
She raised the fact that adding insult to injury there are attempts by companies linked to the AUKUS project to get into schools and promote nuclear-powered submarines and associated mathematics and engineering issues in competitions to seduce young people into thinking positively about submarine warfare.
National Tertiary Education Union: The NTEU spokesperson mentioned the presence of arms corporations on campus. The tertiary sector is experiencing less funding while resources are being cheerfully set aside for submarines and associated causes.
SAAC (Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition): SAAC reps outlined the campaign against AUKUS in Sydney that has been going for five years. It is made up of various peace, political and religious groups. The campaign stresses ‘No AUKUS, No War on China’. The push to nuclear submarines is based on the false assumption of a China threat. The US in response expects Australia to increase military spending and integration into the US military. This is not acceptable for a sovereign country. The cost of the policy will cause massive stresses in the Australian economy and hinder the government’s role in assisting its citizens.
