Peter Garrett to head independent inquiry into the Aukus submarine pact
Peter Garrett says there should have been a parliamentary inquiry into the $368bn Aukus deal. Photograph: Adam Ferguson/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Peter Garrett says there should have been a parliamentary inquiry into the $368bn Aukus deal. Photograph: Adam Ferguson/The Guardian Peter Garrett to head independent inquiry into the Aukus submarine pact Exclusive: Former Labor minister will lead the community-based investigation and report in October Peter Garrett on why Australians deserve the truth about Aukus – Full Story podcast Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Former environment minister Peter Garrett will lead an independent inquiry into the Aukus defence pact, launched by a group of Labor veterans and public figures concerned proper scrutiny has never been applied to the $368bn defence plan . Garrett, the Midnight Oil frontman and longtime environmental campaigner, will be the lead commissioner on the five-month community-based investigation, being launched on Tuesday. It will hold public hearings and take written submissions before delivering a final report by 30 October. Labor agreed to support the deal for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines in collaboration with the United States and the United Kingdom, negotiated under the former Morrison government and announced in 2021. As part of the agreement, Australia is funding upgrades to the US defence industrial base and will start receiving secondhand nuclear submarines in 2032. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The UK parliament held a year-long review into the trilateral partnership and, after an inquiry by the Pentagon in 2025, US President Donald Trump agreed to support it . But some within Labor, including former prime minister Paul Keating, as well as civil society groups believe Aukus is not in Australia’s best interest. Garrett said the new inquiry – supported by trade unions and non-profit organisations – will consider if the subs 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. He has previously lashed Aukus, saying the plan “stinks” and represents “the most costly and risky action ever taken by any Australian government”. “This inquiry is doing the job that a proper parliamentary inquiry should be doing,” Garrett told Guardian Australia. “How is it that there’s been inquiries about the submarine program in other countries and we haven’t had a full parliamentary inquiry here?” A group of commissioners will be named to lead the inquiry, convened under the auspices of the Australian Peace and Security Forum. Critical to its deliberations will be the rise of China and the prospect of conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Nuclear non-proliferation issues, employment and environmental consequences are also among the inquiry’s terms-of-reference. Despite the Albanese government ex
Peter Garretts appointment for an independent inquiry into Aukus is a prudent step. It ensures transparency and accountability, crucial for maintaining public trust in government decisions.
Peter Garretts decision to lead an inquiry into Aukus is a sign of growing concerns about the governments decision-making processes. While the deal may have been a boon for the defense industry, its important that we have transparency and accountability. Only time will tell if Garretts investigation will shed any light on the true motivations behind the Aukus pact.
Peter Garretts move is a no-brainer. Transparency beats secrecy any day. Trust is the currency of democracy. Lets see how the truth plays out.
Aukus? More like Aukusus! Inquiring minds want to know: is it really about national security, or is it just another chapter in our buy American obsession?
Peter Garretts decision to lead an independent inquiry into Aukus is a crucial step in ensuring transparency and accountability. As a concerned environmentalist, I hope this investigation will not only shed light on the environmental impacts but also lead to more responsible decision-making that prioritizes the well-being of our planet and its people. Lets hope this inquiry will inspire a deeper commitment to sustainability and ethical governance.