Key Points
- The US, UK and Australia signed a new AUKUS agreement in Washington last week.
- Documents tabled in parliament on Monday revealed several key elements of the revamped agreement.
- Australia will indemnify the US and UK from any ‘liability’ arising from nuclear risks related to the program.
The plan will bring eight nuclear-powered subs into service by the 2050s.
US and UK could walk away with a year’s notice
“Any party may terminate the agreement … by giving at least one year’s written notice to the other parties,” it reads.
Australia responsible for storage and disposal of waste
But Australia would be responsible for the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from the nuclear power units that are transferred under the deal.
Australia to cover other members for nuclear risks
But the legal protection won’t apply in relation to a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine that has been in service with the US Navy “until such time as it is transferred to Australia”.
“It builds on the significant progress that has already been achieved, including the passing of the US National Defense Authorization Act, the announcement of Australia’s sovereign submarine build and sustainment partners, and the ongoing work to integrate and uplift the industrial bases of all three AUKUS partners,” he said.
Greens attack revamped agreement
“This is a $368 billion gamble with taxpayers’ money from the Albanese government,” he said.
Greens senator David Shoebridge criticised the AUKUS agreement as a “$368 billion gamble”. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
“The new AUKUS agreement says that if at any point the United States thinks supplying material under the AUKUS agreement to Australia prejudices their defence, they can effectively terminate the agreement and pull out.”
“What this agreement makes clear in black and white, is that if the United States at any point, thinks they don’t have enough submarines for themselves, they can pull out of AUKUS 2.0,” he said.