AUKUS and the nuclear submarine debacle
Exploring the economic, political and strategic implications of Australia dumping a $90 billion French submarine program to secure a deal with the US and UK for nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia blind-sided France and the Australian public by dumping a $90 billion French submarine deal in favour of a new trilateral security partnership with the UK and USA, including a deal to secure Australia nuclear-powered submarines. In this episode we explore the ramifications of this historic policy shift, made with zero democratic debate in Australia.
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director at the Australia Institute // @ebony_bennett
Guests:
Ben Oquist, Executive Director, The Australia Institute // @benoquist
Allan Behm, International & Security Affairs program director // @mirandaprorsus
Producer: Jennifer Macey // @jennifermacey
Theme Music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions
Related research
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Chasing a chimera: The political dream of AUKUS that consumes reality
For the sake of taxpayers, let’s hope that the Audit Office is inspecting the AUKUS books closely. Australian money is flushing into the US submarine construction system – a billion US dollars so far, with another billion by year’s end. What will Australia have to show for it? Nothing. Except, of course, for a lot of international
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs As Australia’s federal election campaign has finally begun, opposition leader Peter Dutton’s proposal to spend hundreds of billions in public money to build seven nuclear power plants across the country has been carefully scrutinized. The technological unfeasibility, staggering cost, and scant detail of the Coalition’s nuclear proposal have
You know what’s more idiotic than a photo op? Walking blindly into the AUKUS pact
There was a lot of hysteria over the symbolism of former premier Daniel Andrews’ photo op with assorted dictators at a Chinese WWII military ceremony, but precious little discussion or analysis of the so-called threats to Australia’s security.