The Australian Government's AUKUS nuclear propelled submarine decisions may eventually boost Australia's defences against China.
As I expressed in September 2021 there are also more immediate political benefits for the Australian Government in starting the AUKUS process. The AUKUS submarine decisions have occurred in the runup to Australia’s next Federal Election to be held by on, or before, May 21, 2022.
The Australian Government, by establishing a nuclear submarine future aims at "wedging" the major Opposition parties. "Wedging" means politically dividing in Australian parlance. Wedging is going on between the Australian Labor Party (ALP) Left from the pro-Jobs, pro-Economic Growth ALP Center-Right faction.
The Government is also trying to wedge the ALP (that officially backs the nuclear subs) from the the strongly anti-nuclear, leftwing Australian Greens Party (whose support is often required for the ALP to win power and govern).
Submarine Matters likes to air both sides of the debate., particularly on hugely expensive submarines.
In this volatile nuclear submarine political situation I think it useful to reproduce the Greens point of view (as at January 28, 2022). Below are two Greens Policy Statements that includes those words (bolded) that could concern Australia's future nuclear propelled submarines.
It is notable the Greens make no comment on the UK which is one of the 3 AUKUS members. It appears to be becoming clearer that the UK will provide most of the AUKUS neclear submarines components to Australia. See Australia highligting UK Astute class nuclear submarines here and here.
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1. https://greens.org.au/campaigns/no-nuclear-subs
[undated but on the internet as at January 28, 2022]
“NOT HERE, NOT NOW AND NOT EVER"
"We must never allow our communities to be nuclearised.
Scott Morrison has announced a military alliance between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom that would see the nuclearisation of our communities - including nuclear submarines stationed in our harbours and off our shores.
This is a dangerous move that makes us less safe.
We shouldn’t be turning war into an industry. Whether it be in the shipyards of South Australia, the harbours of Rockingham or the remote communities of WA. We deserve the real jobs of the future in clean, green manufacturing such as electric vehicles - not this.
This is the time to be rethinking our dependence on the United States, not increasing it.
The nuclearisation of our community makes us less safe, ruins our environment and threatens peace in our region.
If the Government is spending billions of dollars, it should be towards things the community wants: support for people in lockdown, a livable JobSeeker rate, a properly funded NDIS, mental & dental into medicare and meaningful climate action - not a nuclear program.
Don’t nuclearise our communities. Not here, not now, not ever.”
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2. "Greens Announce Plan for Peace, Demilitarisation and Rejection of AUKUS Submarine Deal"
https://greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-announce-plan-peace-demilitarisation-and-rejection-aukus-submarine-deal
nuclear subs]
MEDIA RELEASE
JORDON STEELE-JOHN 19 OCT 2021
PEACE & DISARMAMENT (COVERS DEFENCE)
The Greens have today announced that in the balance of power after the next election, they will push to boldly reform our defence force to ensure a peace-focused approach is prioritised.
Quotes attributable to Australian Greens Peace Spokesperson, Senator Jordon Steele-John:
“The Greens are committed to reducing defence spending, this will make $312 billion available over the next decade for essential services our community needs….
“Our Australian Greens Towards Peace plan will renegotiate our alliance with the United States, close all foreign military bases in Australia, reduce defence spending and prioritise peaceful efforts in our region to tackle the climate crisis.
…“Our community does not want our future to be at the behest of the United States of America. The Australian Greens are committed to re-negotiating the ANZUS alliance, we will not proceed with the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, and we will close all foreign military bases across Australia….
The details of The Australian Greens plan:
- Reduce defence spending to 1% of GDP by 2026 ensuring that Australia has a light, readily deployable, and highly mobile force that is commensurate with our size and location;
- Renegotiate the US alliance with the terms of a new relationship focused on making Australia safer and a better global citizen;
- Close all foreign military bases in Australia;..."