Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN)
IPAN Patrons: Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe AO & Kellie Tranter Lawyer & Human Rights Activist
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 April 2025
- Sydney Morning Herald call for an inquiry into AUKUS is a telling moment in AUKUS debate
- The lack of examination of AUKUS by parliament must be rectified as a matter of high priority
- Can’t afford your groceries, or rent or a visit to your GP? Government set to spend $33M per day over 30 years on nuclear subs that may never arrive
- This election we must hold politicians to account for a full independent inquiry into AUKUS
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) believes Australian voters have been kept in the dark about secret negotiations by the Morrison Government and later the Albanese Government in establishing AUKUS without full parliamentary scrutiny,’ stated IPAN spokesperson Dr Colin Hughes.
It was a telling moment earlier this week when the Sydney Morning Herald Editorial suggested ‘Australia could do well to follow Britain’s lead and conduct our own inquiry into the AUKUS nuclear submarines deal’.
The Australian Government cannot ignore the calls that have now been coming from all sectors of Australian society – former politicians of both major parties, academics, affected communities, peace groups and unions – and now the mainstream media.
‘A lack of examination of AUKUS by parliament must be rectified as a matter of very high priority – too many questions remain unanswered’, asserted Dr Hughes.
Questions remain around the capacity of the US’ boat-building program to be able to supply Australia with nuclear submarines on schedule. Billions of Australian taxpayer funds could be spent for nothing.
‘With Trump’s presidency creating huge uncertainty about the nature of the relationship between the US and Australia, it has demonstrated what many people have long articulated, that US support cannot be taken for granted and Australia must stand on its own two feet’, said Dr Hughes.
The Morrison government’s justification for the initial spending was for Australia to be prepared for a war with China, our most important trading partner. ‘Should war eventuate, the AUKUS pact risks Australia becoming a military target’, stated Dr Hughes.
IPAN has huge concerns about Nuclear Safety around AUKUS – and the risks of a nuclear leak or low level radiation in the ports and risks of contamination to first responders cannot be ignored.
Despite assurances from then President Biden that no AUKUS ships would be carrying nuclear arms – the US policy of neither confirming or denying whether nuclear weapons are on board their vessels cannot provide Australia with any assurance around this.
‘And what happens in the event of a nuclear explosion or even worse a terror attack’, asked Dr Hughes. “These weapons are 6 times larger than Hiroshima and the direct nuclear effect would travel over 20km putting 250,000 West Australians living south of Perth at risk’.
There is also the question of whether nuclear submarines are the most cost-effective form of protection of Australia’s shallow coastline, when 20 conventional submarines could be built here for $30 billion?’, asked Dr Hughes.
Questions also remain around the massive stress on local communities with the influx of US service men and women and their demands on already stretched housing, health education and child care services.
‘It is astounding that our Government is set to spend $33M per day over 30 years on nuclear submarines that may never be seen, when millions of Australians struggle to afford their rent, groceries, and visits to their local GP’, argued Dr Hughes.
‘IPAN believes that voters in the upcoming federal election we must hold politicians to account for a full independent inquiry into AUKUS’, stated Dr Hughes.
‘Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton must categorically state their commitment to a full independent review of AUKUS’ with view to exercising Australia’s right to withdraw from the agreement by giving 12 months’ notice’, urged Dr Hughes.
‘It has never been clearer that Australia must reduce its dependence on the US and vote for peace not war.” said Dr Hughes.
ENDS
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For Media Interviews: Dr Colin Hughes – 0403 027 323
Media Liaison: Jonathan Pilbrow 0403 611 815
Bio: Dr Colin Hughes is a former Head of Public Health in Perth and a Former Chair RACGPWA, A long time supporter of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and now WA State representative of the Independent and Peaceful Australian Network.