A Labor MP has broken ranks to call for a rethink of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal as a former party minister launches a “people’s inquiry” into the agreement.
After asking whether Labor’s original commitment to the deal still stood during a private caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday, Labor backbencher Ed Husic went public with his reservations about the military pact after it was announced Australia would only get second-hand submarines from the US.
“You do wonder whether or not we will get the deal, even the reconfigured one that we have got,” Mr Husic told reporters at Parliament House.
Originally, Australia was set to get a mix of new and used Virginia-Class vessels before eventually building its own in Adelaide, but now the defence force will only get used submarines.
Defence Minister Richard Marles defended the move, saying it would make AUKUS simpler and cheaper to deliver, but Mr Husic appeared skeptical of that reasoning.
“In the circumstances he’s been placed, he would have to say that,” Mr Husic said.
The Labor MP, who was science and industry minister before being ousted from cabinet in 2025 in a factional power play, said Australia needed to be open about the workforce shortages, supply chain challenges and quality issues confronting the AUKUS pact.
Mr Husic has previously broken with his colleagues on the recognition of a Palestinian state, the war in Gaza and taxation of gas.
Husic’s comments came as former Labor minister and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett on Tuesday announced plans to lead a “people’s inquiry” into AUKUS, investigating the implications of the pact for the nation’s security.
The crowdfunded probe, run separately from the government, will look into whether the vessels will make Australia more secure, the storage of nuclear waste and potential long-term strategic consequences, the former environment minister said.
“This is not a royal commission, this is a people’s inquiry,” Mr Garrett told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
Mr Garrett said he hoped the government would be among those presenting to the inquiry and welcomed submissions from people with a range of political views.
“The AUKUS decision is the most momentous and expensive decision ever made by any Australia government in the modern era,” he said.
The rock star turned politician has named retired admiral Chris Barrie, former WA premier Carmen Lawrence, Yankunytjatjara woman Karina Lester and Australia Institute co-chief executive Leanne Minshull as “commissioners” for the probe.
Mr Barrie, who was chief of the defence force between 1998 and 2002, said it was important to have a thorough look at Australia’s defence commitments and its alliance with the US and UK.
“My fear … is that the kinds of expenditures, and the kinds of workforce, and the way in which we would go about supporting something like AUKUS, might drain other parts of our defence force,” he said.
Asked about Mr Husic’s contribution during Labor’s caucus meeting, Treasurer Jim Chalmers would not be drawn.
“We support the AUKUS arrangements, and I don’t get into the details of discussions in the parliamentary party,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Western Australian Labor MP Josh Wilson has also previously raised questions about the nuclear submarine deal.
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