MEDIA ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE 17 August 2023
A high-profile group of leading Labor luminaries in addition to a number of prominent peace organisations has called for in independent enquiry into the AUKUS submarine defence agreement, ahead of the ALP National Conference this weekend.
Former Federal Senators Doug Cameron, Margaret Reynolds and Claire Moore and former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, and former Queensland State MPs Clement Campbell and Rod Welford and several national peace organisations, have penned an open letter to the Australian Labor Party that questions whether there has been adequate assessment of the many risks associated with AUKUS and its impact on Australians.
“We are concerned for the wellbeing and security of all Australians, so we question the fact that there has been inadequate public scrutiny of this long term Defence agreement” said former Labor Senator for Queensland, Ms Margaret Reynolds.
“Planning around AUKUS has been shrouded in secrecy with no publicly available impact studies showing how AUKUS will affect the social and economic conditions of all Australians, now and into an unknown future” said Ms Reynolds.
Professionals with relevant expertise have not been asked to provide the Australian Government with essential detail for managing such a large-scale military venture.
There are no risk assessments about the serious threat to those port communities in the event of a reactor accident. There are no plans to guarantee safe transport and disposal of nuclear waste.
“It is time, therefore, for an independent inquiry by a team of economic, medical, technical and international relations professionals who have the credentials to fully examine just how Australia will meet its duty of care to its own citizens and indeed to peace in our region”, said Ms Reynolds.
This week provides an opportunity for Labor National conference delegates to to recommend an independent inquiry into the AUKUS agreement. This is essential to ensuring what is best for the defence of Australia and building a better future for all Australians.
Therefore, “we urge National Australian Labor Party Conference delegates in Brisbane to show their full support for a public and independent inquiry into AUKUS”, said Ms Reynolds.
The Open Letter is supported by Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR), the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), Labor Against War (LAW), Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Australia (WILPF)
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