by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has today reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the AUKUS agreement on nuclear-powered submarines, describing it as “the single biggest leap in our defence capability”.
Under the military pact with the US and Britain, the Royal Australian Navy will acquire eight nuclear-powered submarines at an estimated cost of $100 billion.
Albanese told the National Press Club in Canberra today that AUKUS is crucial for Australia’s security amid a period of uncertainty in the Asia Pacific region.
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“AUKUS is about much more than nuclear submarines, or even technological interoperability. AUKUS is about the future.
“It further formalises the common values and the shared interests that our three nations have in preserving peace and upholding the rules and institutions that secure our region and our world.”
Albanese also pledged to encourage more local defence manufacturing capabilities to avoid dependence on overseas allies for advanced military equipment.
“Australia has long understood that partnerships and alliances are key to our security. And that’s still true today,” he said.
“But we recognise that pursuing and defending our sovereign interests and contributing to regional stability requires us to build our sovereign defence capability, including advanced manufacturing.”
The PM linked the federal government’s reengagement with China and Australia’s Pacific neighbours with national security policy.
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“Our government has worked hard to stabilise our relationship with China, our major trading partner, recognising the value of direct dialogue, seeking to cooperate where we can, while being prepared to disagree where we must. And always acting in the national interest and in support of regional stability,” he said.
“In the best tradition of outward looking engaged Labor governments, we’re seeking to build security in the Indo-Pacific – not from it.”
Albanese also stressed addressing the challenge of climate change was crucial in improving ties with Australia’s neighbours through forums such as APEC, ASEAN and the East Asia Summit.
“The entry ticket, the threshold credibility test for so many of these conversations is our commitment to act on climate change,” he said.
“Upgrading our national emissions reduction target to 43 per cent by 2030 sent a message to the world about Australia returning to the ranks of responsible nations.”
Australia expected to sign a security agreement with Papua New Guinea and ratify a new security pact with Vanuatu, Albanese said.
The PM’s speech today came ahead of next month’s announcement about the type of nuclear-propelled submarine technology Australia will obtain.
He is expected to visit Washington for a possible joint press conference with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The former Coalition government launched AUKUS in September 2021.
The AUKUS alliance drew criticism from former Labor prime minister Paul Keating, who said Australia would give up its control of the nation’s armed forces under the deal.
Early this year, former Coalition PM Malcolm Turnbull said an Australian nuclear-powered submarine fleet could only operate and be maintained with the help of US experts.
The federal government is still examining the Defence Strategic Review, which it was handed last week.
An unclassified version will be released publicly before the May budget, Albanese will announce today.
