Our Fact Sheet gives a concise summary of the main issues:

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) has many useful links on these pages:

Pt Adelaide residents are opposing AUKUS nuclear waste storage

They recently held a well-attended public meeting, and are keeping up the pressure.

Adelaide residents blindsided by decision to store AUKUS nuclear waste at submarine shipyards – ABC News

U.S. Submarine Program Faces Mounting Production Issues

Yes, mounting production issues – they are just not going away.

U.S. Submarine Program Faces Mounting Production Issues

US nuke sub production slowing down

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter editor Kym Bergmann cites US sources on the slowing down, not speeding up, of nuclear submarine production and of the Congressional Report that suggests Australia should not purchase submarines but spend its money on other military provision. An interesting 15-minute listen tohis podcast at: Episode 69 – Asia Pacific Defense Report | Acast

Congressional report suggests Australia could dump plans to acquire AUKUS nuclear submarines

Two links: an ABC report (short version) on the US Congressional Report, and the (long version) Congressional report itself.

Congressional report suggests Australia could dump plans to acquire AUKUS nuclear submarines – ABC News

rl32418-13.pdf (documentcloud.org)

Adding second Virginia-class sub would come at expense of Navy’s next-gen fighter, Austin warns

In more bad news for the AUKUS submarine schedule, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is opposing the expansion of Virginia-class production to two vessels a year.

Adding second Virginia-class sub would come at expense of Navy’s next-gen fighter, Austin warns – Breaking Defense

Independence too big a price for AUKUS fantasy

Gareth Evans defends his view that AUKUS has profound negative implications for Australia’s security and sovereignty.

Independence too big a price for AUKUS fantasy – Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com)

The AUKUS project is being submerged in twaddle

A critical take on the critics attacking AUKUS critics.

The AUKUS project is being submerged in twaddle – Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com)

The dangers of AUKUS, the FPA and nuclear submarines

IPAN member Bevan Ramsden explains the implications of the Australian Nuclear Power Safety Bill, 2023 for residents near Garden Island, WA and Osborne, SA, both of which have been declared nuclear zones.

The dangers of AUKUS, the FPA and nuclear submarines – Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com)

That time when Canada cancelled its nuclear submarine order

The author cites evidence from the US that it would prefer to operate more of its own nuclear subs out of WA then sell us their SSNs.

That time when Canada cancelled its nuclear submarine order – Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com)

At Ingalls, plenty of space for shipbuilding but ramping up workforce will be the challenge

An online US Defense magazine reveals the problems the US has with expanding its shipbuilding workforce, with obvious implications for the AUKUS arrangements.

At Ingalls, plenty of space for shipbuilding but ramping up workforce will be the challenge – Breaking Defense

Gareth Evans: AUKUS is terrible for Australian national interests – but we’re probably stuck with it

Although not initially critical of Morrison’s AUKUS announcement, former Labor Foreign Minister Gareth Evans is now firmly opposed to the arrangements.

Gareth Evans: AUKUS is terrible for Australian national interests – but we’re probably stuck with it (theconversation.com)

Revamped AUKUS document reveals how US and UK can walk away from nuclear submarine deal

Labor has tied us into the US war machine until 2075, but the US and UK can walk away with one year’s notice. And we still get the problem of nuclear waste.

Revamped AUKUS document reveals how US and UK can walk away from nuclear submarine deal – ABC News

EXCLUSIVE: Australian defense minister Richard Marles on AUKUS, China and industry concerns – Breaking Defense

Is it possible the Americans are just trying to embarrass us by publishing this inarticulate interview with Richard Marles?  The guy is an idiot.

EXCLUSIVE: Australian defense minister Richard Marles on AUKUS, China and industry concerns – Breaking Defense

Congress’ Thinktank Flags AUKUS Alternative: US Submarine Base in WA and no Australian Subs

Paul Gregoire says that US Congress may prefer to build and keep the nuclear-powered submarines it was planning to sell to Australia.

https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/congress-thinktank-flacgs-aukus-alternative-us-submarine-base-in-wa-and-no-australian-subs/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=week-32

AUKUS May Not Guarantee Any Subs, Bit It Does Ensure US Jurisdictional Drift.

Sydney-based journalist Paul Gregoire reviews the AUKUS arrangements and new legislation to protect them which include jail terms of up to20 years.

AUKUS May Not Guarantee Any Subs, But It Does Ensure US Jurisdictional Drift (sydneycriminallawyers.com.au)

The Case Against AUKUS

Victorian Convenor of Labor Against War, Hamish McPherson, a public school teacher and AEU delegate, presents the Labor rank and file’s case against the AUKUS arrangements.

case-against-aukus-july-2024.pdf – Google Drive

Radioactive waste storage licence granted despite opposition

The Stirling Naval base in WA has been licensed by the government to store nuclear wastes from AUKUS submarines.

Radioactive waste storage licence granted despite opposition – APDR (asiapacificdefencereporter.com)

ANDREW FOWLER Nuked: The submarine fiasco that sank Australia’s sovereignty. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck

According to Clinton Fernandes, Fowler’s book is “a nuclear-armed torpedo of a book and a major service to the Australian public. There is astonishing detail in every chapter.”

ANDREW FOWLER Nuked: The submarine fiasco that sank Australia’s sovereignty. Reviewed by Braham Dabscheck – The Newtown Review of Books

Canada commits to buying 12 new conventionally-powered, under-the-ice submarines

Canada has announced it will purchase 12 conventionally powered submarines at a cost estimated to be $A65 billion.  In 2018, the Morrison government was told that the cost of 12 extended Collins class submarines, built in Australia, was $a20 billion. But he chose, and the ALP went along, with the AUKUS arrangements at a cost(so far) of $A368 billion.

Canada commits to buying 12 new conventionally-powered, under-the-ice submarines – Breaking Defense

‘A cruel joke’: Why AUKUS might leave Australia stranded

Continuing scepticism within the submarine and wider defence community about the AUKUS arrangements has surfaced in this AFR article.  A team of defence experts concludes that the Albanese government is on course for a financial and strategic disaster with the billion-dollar AUKUS nuclear submarine project.

AUKUS nuclear submarine program: defence experts say the Albanese government is on course for a financial and strategic disaster (afr.com)

Across the Indo-Pacific, militaries scramble to put more submarines in the water

Our region is a “a hotbed for undersea-warfare developments,” an unwelcome development outlined in this US study of the boom in submarine acquisitions.

Across the Indo-Pacific, militaries scramble to put more submarines in the water – Breaking Defense

Worker Health Risks in an AUKUS Nuclear Sub Reactor Accident

Anti-nuclear campaigner David Noonan criticises the declaration of Osborne in SA as a “dedicated nuclear zone” in the absence of health impact studies and explains the dangers first responders will face in the event of a nuclear accident.

Noonan-Worker-Health-Risks-in-an-AUKUS-N-Sub-Reactor-Accident-April-2024.pdf (foe.org.au)

Why bet on a loser? Australia’s dangerous gamble on the US

Australian Anti-AUKUS Coalition (AAAC) and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) member Michael Williss questions why we are spending $368 billion to make ourselves interoperable with a military that various experts say could not win a war with China.

Why bet on a loser? Australia’s dangerous gamble on the US – » The Australian Independent Media Network (theaimn.com)

Australian Futures: Bringing AUKUS Out of Stealth Mode

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) member Denis Bright argues that more needs to be done to counter the drift into acceptance of AUKUS.

Australian Futures: Bringing AUKUS Out of Stealth Mode – » The Australian Independent Media Network (theaimn.com)

Is Australia’s AUKUS submarine pathway really ‘optimal’?

There is a lot to disagree with in this paper – not surprising given its source. But both authors highlight problems with the AUKUS arrangements. Dr Elizabeth Buchanan’s outline of the problems is stronger, but her “solution” is much wronger.

https://www.ussc.edu.au/is-australias-aukus-submarine-pathway-really-optimal

Why Japan is no closer to joining AUKUS

Sichuan International Studies University Associate Professor Guo Binyun does not believe Japan will join AUKUS any time soon.

Why Japan is no closer to joining AUKUS (thinkchina.sg)

US Space Force is planning DARC with new military bases in the US, Australia and UK. 

As part of AUKUS the UK/US Militaries plans to create a 27 dish ‘Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept’ – ‘DARC’ high-power radar station at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, UK.  ‘PARC Against DARC’ has announced its official launch and fully intends to stop this military monstrosity ever seeing the light of day. The brand new website, www.parcagainstdarc.com comes as part of the launch and states that the proposals are “One of the most Health-Hazardous, tourism-ruining, skyline blighting military installations ever proposed anywhere in the UK”.

AUKUS and the Nuclear Agenda: the challenge for the labour movement

An edited speech given at ACTU Fringe Meeting, 3 June 2024, AEU South Australia offices, Adelaide by Labor Against War’s Marcus Strom.

AUKUS and the Nuclear Agenda: the challenge for the labour movement – Pearls and Irritations (johnmenadue.com)

AUKUS: No refund…

Even within the Defence community, there is a cynicism about the AUKUS arrangements. Australia Pacific Defence Reporter, Kym Bergmann, critiques the “no refund” payments to US and UK industries:

AUKUS: No refund for $9.4 billion gift to US & UK submarine companies – APDR (asiapacificdefencereporter.com)

Australia, Defence and the anti-Midas touch with submarines

Rex Patrick is a former SA Senator and submariner. He is scathing of the financial cost of the AUKUS arrangements.

Australia, Defence and the anti-Midas touch with submarines – Michael West

A Detectable Subservience

Michael Williss, retired AEU research officer and AAAC member, looks at technical issues that may destroy the claims that nuclear-powered submarines are stealthy and undetectable.

A Detectable Subservience – » The Australian Independent Media Network (theaimn.com)