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Opinion | What the Aukus alliance says about Australian democracy
- The wisdom of shoehorning such a significant piece of foreign policy without broad consultation is questionable and highlights the startling lack of public scrutiny being applied to matters of national security in Australia
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More than a month has now passed since Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Aukus military pact. Questions about its strategic implications aside, the long-term significance of Aukus on Australia’s relations with the world will only be matched by what it has confirmed about its own body politic.
After the announcement, Australia’s federal opposition was left scrambling to compose a careful response to an agreement which fundamentally reshapes the nation’s strategic future – appear too supportive and risk looking like lackeys, appear too critical and risk looking like obstructionists.
Indeed, shadow foreign minister Penny Wong continues to note the failure of the ruling coalition to bring Labor “into the tent” on Aukus or its submarine programme.
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The wisdom of shoehorning such a significant piece of foreign policy without broad consultation is questionable, especially considering that the A$100 billion (US$74 billion) submarine programme will take at least 20 years to complete – far outlasting any one coalition or Labor government.
03:51
US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific
US, UK, Australia announce ‘historic’ military partnership in Pacific
But, dig deeper and a more systemic problem becomes evident: the startling lack of public scrutiny being applied to matters of national security in Australia.
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