The latest instalment in the ongoing AUKUS saga is once again a transparency free zone.
The Biden administration says a new amended version of the AUKUS agreement includes a number of undisclosed political commitments made by Australia.
“The Albanese government needs to tell the Australian people exactly what special commitments have been made”, said Dr Alison Broinowski, a former diplomat and spokesperson for Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR).
From day one AUKUS has lacked basic transparency and accountability. Australians have been kept in the dark, despite the massive cost and implications for our nation.”
In his letter to Congress Mr Biden said the AUKUS partners had reached a “non-legally binding understanding…which reflects the governments’ intended approach to certain articles of the agreement and provides additional related political commitments.”
“If the commitments made by the Australian government are ‘political’ and not based on national security, surely these should be made public,” Dr Broinowski said.
“AUKUS has become a very controversial project, in part because it lacks a social licence. The community has been shut out of the process at every turn.
The parliament has never had a say and not even the Labor caucus had a say. It was a captain’s call by Albanese which is absurd in modern day Australia. The PM and a tiny group of ministers should not have the power to commit to such a massive, multi-decade project without any community consultation.
Is it possible that these secret ‘undisclosed political commitments’ relate to Australia’s involvement in a future overseas war? Perhaps it relates to the growing US military presence on Australian soil?
This government came to power promising genuine transparency but it now persists with unwarranted secrecy. It needs to take a very different path if it wants to avoid growing public disillusion.”
AWPR Media Statement 9 August 2024
