The Australian government has pledged an additional 4.6 billion Australian dollars (approximately $3 billion USD) towards the AUKUS security agreement, earmarked for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. The funding will support the development of a shipyard in Osborne, located northwest of Adelaide, which is designated to build the advanced vessels as part of the broader $368 billion pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. This new allocation brings the total investment in the Osborne site to 8.5 billion Australian dollars.
However, the increased funding has sparked concerns among some analysts. Mark Beeson, an adjunct professor at the University of Technology Sydney's Australia-China Relations Institute and a critic of the AUKUS deal, has voiced strong opposition. Beeson argued that Defence projects historically suffer from delays and budget overruns, predicting the AUKUS initiative will be no different, but on a larger scale. He also raised concerns about the rapid advancement of drone technology, suggesting that by the time the submarines are operational, they may be technologically outdated and vulnerable.
"They'll be easier to find and destroy, and the drones that destroy them will cost a fraction of the price of these submarines," Beeson stated, as reported by the Daily Mail. Furthermore, he posited that the AUKUS pact, intended to enhance Australia's security, could paradoxically make the nation less safe by elevating its status as a potential nuclear target. Beeson pointed to the basing of nuclear-armed submarines in Australian ports as a factor that could provoke a response from China, potentially making Australian facilities, including those like Pine Gap and North West Cape, targets for nuclear strikes. He described AUKUS as "the most ill-conceived, misguided, strategically illiterate initiative you could possibly think of."
Under the terms of the AUKUS agreement, Australia is set to acquire second-hand nuclear submarines from the U.S. in the 2030s, with locally constructed vessels not expected until the early 2040s.
While critics like Beeson highlight potential risks, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas expressed optimism about the funding, describing the shipyard as a significant opportunity and a chance for young South Australians to acquire high-value nuclear skills. The current shipyard employs approximately 1,100 workers.
The funding announcement coincided with the national conference of the Australian Labor Party, where some rank-and-file members have called for the party to abandon the AUKUS deal. Marcus Strom of Labor Against War suggested that funds allocated to the submarine program could be better invested in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, or the health industry, arguing that AUKUS represents a "chimera of opportunity for jobs" compared to more sustainable sectors.
Despite internal dissent, Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that AUKUS would be a topic of debate at the conference but noted the party's strong support for the pact in previous years, citing a 75% affirmative vote at the prior conference. He indicated that the government remains committed to proceeding with the initiative. Protesters outside the conference venue voiced their opposition to the submarine deal, wearing hazmat suits and using sirens to draw attention to their concerns.