Former Labor foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans has described the Aukus nuclear submarine deal as one of Australia's worst defence and foreign policy decisions, warning it paints a target on the country and relies on a 'ludicrous delusion' that the United States would come to its aid in an existential crisis.
Testifying at an independent public inquiry into the $368 billion agreement with the US and United Kingdom on Thursday, Evans said the transfer and construction of submarines from the early 2030s effectively extends the American military fleet. He argued that a future US administration would not sacrifice its own cities for Australia's, calling the notion of extended nuclear deterrence a 'ludicrous delusion'.
Evans, who served as foreign minister from 1988 to 1996, expressed skepticism about the delivery timeline for Virginia-class submarines, citing US construction delays and shortages. He also highlighted difficulties in building new SSN-Aukus attack submarines with the UK, noting Britain's defence-industrial base is under 'extraordinary stress'.
He called the government's expected price tag 'wholly speculative' and said the US views the submarines as supplementary assets for targeting Chinese submarines that threaten the US mainland. 'Australian ministers have never explicitly conceded as much but the conclusion is inescapable that from the outset the whole enterprise has been viewed through an alliance reinforcement lens,' Evans said.
The public inquiry, backed by trade unions and the Australian Peace and Security Forum, is led by former Labor minister Peter Garrett and former defence chief Chris Barrie. It will hold hearings nationwide before reporting in October. Current Labor ministers have accused the inquiry of being biased against Aukus.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the project, saying it is 'central to assuring Australian sovereignty in a much more contested world'. She acknowledged challenges but stressed the capability is needed. Labor is pushing back against criticism ahead of its national conference in Adelaide next month.
