Australian ex-minister launches crowd-funded inquiry into Aukus submarine deal

June 2, 2026

Peter Garrett, a former Australian environment minister and Midnight Oil frontman, will lead a crowd-funded, independent inquiry examining Australia's A$368 billion Aukus submarine agreement with the United States. The five-member commission, which includes former military leaders and other prominent figures, plans to conduct public hearings through October to evaluate whether the nuclear-powered submarine deal enhances Australia's security and what consequences it carries for regional stability. Recent modifications to the arrangement mean Australia will now purchase three used American submarines instead of new vessels as originally planned, while Perth will host US and UK submarines starting in 2027.

Who is affected

Australia (acquiring submarines and hosting foreign vessels)
Peter Garrett and four other commissioners (leading the inquiry)
Karen Lester (commissioner whose father was harmed by British nuclear tests in the 1950s)
Independent MPs David Pocock and Andrew Wilkie (supporting the review)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government
The United States and United Kingdom (providing submarines and basing vessels in Perth)
China (Australia's largest trading partner, concerned about regional security implications)
Australian Peace and Security Forum (organizing the review)
Former MPs, retired military/naval officers, human rights lawyers, and union leaders (supporting the inquiry)

What action is being taken

An independent inquiry is being conducted by Peter Garrett and four other commissioners
The Australian Peace and Security Forum is organizing the crowd-funded review
Public hearings are being held (with a report due in October)

Why it matters

This matters because Aukus represents Australia's largest-ever defense expenditure at A$368 billion, yet critics argue parliament and citizens have been excluded from meaningful debate about the deal. The inquiry will examine critical questions about Australia's security, sovereignty, nuclear waste storage, and whether the country will actually receive the submarines it's paying for. The agreement has significant geopolitical implications, potentially affecting Australia's relationship with China, its biggest trading partner, while reshaping regional power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions over disputed territories like the South China Sea.

What's next

The review will continue holding public hearings
A report is due in October
From 2027, the US and UK will base nuclear submarines in Perth, Western Australia
Australia will buy three second-hand US submarines (timeline not specified in article)

Read full article from source: BBC