Former Labor minister and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett has announced plans to lead a \u201cpeople\u2019s inquiry\u201d into AUKUS, investigating the implications of the pact for the nation\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowdfunded probe, run separately from the government, will look into whether the vessels will make Australia more secure, the storage of nuclear waste and potential long-term strategic consequences, the former environment minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is not a royal commission, this is a people\u2019s inquiry,\u201d Garrett told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garrett said he hoped the government would be among those presenting to the inquiry and welcomed submissions from people with a range of political views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe AUKUS decision is the most momentous and expensive decision ever made by any Australia government in the modern era,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rock star turned politician has named retired admiral Chris Barrie, former WA premier Carmen Lawrence, Yankunytjatjara woman Karina Lester and Australia Institute co-chief executive Leanne Minshull as \u201ccommissioners\u201d for the probe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barrie, who was chief of the defence force between 1998 and 2002, said it was important to have a thorough look at Australia\u2019s defence commitments and its alliance with the US and UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy fear \u2026 is that the kinds of expenditures, and the kinds of workforce, and the way in which we would go about supporting something like AUKUS, might drain other parts of our defence force,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It came as Labor MP Ed Husic broke ranks to call for a rethink of the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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