- 15 September marks four years since the Morrison Government sprung AUKUS on all Australians
- AUKUS will not meet our security needs but will make Australia a less prepared, more likely target
- AUKUS distorts government funding priorities: $368B for 8 nuclear submarines at the expense of urgent climate mitigation, housing, hospitals, education
- We need a peaceful, sovereign foreign policy grounded in diplomacy, not preparations for another unnecessary war
‘IPAN IS alarmed that the Australian Government continues to fund AUKUS without proper scrutiny or public consent, and believe that the agreement risks entangling Australia in yet another unnecessary U.S.-led war’, according to Ms Annette Brownlie, Chairperson, and spokesperson for IPAN.
Most recently has been the fanfare the Prime Minister announcing $12 billion upfront of new funding for the Henderson Defence Precinct with $25 billion to be spent over ten years in Western Australia in order to service U.S. nuclear subs and deliver continuous naval shipbuilding in WA.
This follows on the heels of the government approving funding to house 1,000 U.S. military personnel and their contractors working on the AUKUS nuclear submarine project in Western Australia – at a time when over 120,000 Australians are homeless, including 7,500 people sleeping rough.
‘The government continues to justify AUKUS by invoking an unprecedented and grave regional security environment, but without providing a clear, evidence-based explanation of what these threats actually are’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘In reality, there are few direct dangers in our immediate region. Instead of militarising our foreign policy, we need to invest in diplomacy, regional cooperation, and peacebuilding.’
IPAN, along with many experts have been calling for the development of a truly independent Australian defence policy, one that’s not beholden to the strategic interests of another country.
Former Retired Army Major General, and founding member of the Australian Peace and Security Forum, Michael Smith today stated to the ABC today: ‘I think we’re putting more money into a very deep hole that does not necessarily guarantee the future security of Australia or our vital interests.’[i]
Rtd Major General Smith has also expressed that ‘Unfortunately, the current government has taken up the mantle of the previous government by just wanting to be totally subservient to the United States and this is the real failure in not having a national security strategy.’ [ii]
‘If conflict were to erupt, U.S. military bases and forces stationed in Australia, notably Pine Gap, Tindal Air Base (with US B52 Bombers operating from there) and HMAS Stirling, could become primary nuclear targets’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘Australia could suffer the consequences of a war we didn’t start, as enemies of the U.S. strike our territory to send a message, with no threat to U.S. soil.’
IPAN is leading a national call for AUKUS to be terminated, citing growing concern among defence experts, economists, and civil society organisations.
‘We must not be dragged into another U.S.-led war, especially one that risks direct conflict with China, our largest trading partner’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘
‘Such a conflict could escalate beyond control, potentially even to nuclear confrontation. We need a peaceful, sovereign foreign policy grounded in diplomacy, not militarism’, said Ms Brownlie. ‘
ENDS
——————————————————————————-
Media Interviews: Annette Brownlie M: 04321 597 256
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow M: 0403 611 815
Bio: Annette Brownlie is founding member of the Brisbane based community peace organisation, Just Peace Queensland, and the current (and inaugural) chairperson of IPAN. She has served in this position for over a decade.