Former Australian environment minister Peter Garrett will head up a crowd-funded review of the multi-billion-dollar AUKUS submarine deal, Australia’s biggest ever defense project, with one of its questions including an examination of how the deal affects Australia’s relations with China, BBC News reported. A Chinese expert said this reflects a growing number of voices within Australia questioning whether it is worthwhile to sacrifice relations with China in order to accommodate US interests.
Launched by a group of Labor veterans and public figures concerned that proper scrutiny was not applied to the deal, the inquiry will hold public hearings and take written submissions before delivering a final report by October 30, the Guardian reported.
Garrett, who served as environment minister between 2007 and 2010, said the independent inquiry into the A$368 billion ($239 billion) deal – where Australia will buy second-hand US submarines to replace its ageing fleet – was “long overdue,” the BBC reported.
He also said the inquiry would consider if the submarines can be delivered on time and on budget, how nuclear waste will be managed and if Australia’s defense and strategic interests are well served by the deal, the Guardian reported.
