Australia Launches Public Inquiry into AUKUS Submarine Pact as UK Defence Secretary Resigns

A crowd‑funded AUKUS Public Inquiry, coordinated by the Australian Peace and Security Forum and led by former environment minister Peter Garrett, has been launched to examine the submarine partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The inquiry will assess whether Australia will receive the promised nuclear‑powered submarines, how nuclear waste will be stored, the true cost of the AU$368 billion project, job creation, and the impact on sovereignty and security.

In the UK, Defence Secretary John Healey resigned unexpectedly after a brief pledge to AUKUS at a ministerial press conference. His departure, linked to disagreements over defence spending and the government's ability to meet NATO commitments, leaves Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles without a British counterpart for upcoming AUKUS talks. Healey’s resignation raises questions about the United Kingdom’s continued support for the submarine programme and its broader defence budget commitments.