AUKUS debate reopened in caucus as Labor MP questions deal to get old subs

Outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic has urged the Prime Minister to hold a new caucus vote on the AUKUS agreement given changes to the deal unveiled over the weekend by Defence Minister Richard Marles.

Over the weekend Mr Marles confirmed Australia would now receive three used Virginia-class submarines from the United States instead of a new boat and two second-hand ones, arguing it would improve simplicity and be significantly cheaper.

Critics have labelled the change as a slap in the face for Australia driven by Pentagon AUKUS-sceptic Elbridge Colby.

Under the AUKUS optimal pathway unveiled in 2023, Australia is scheduled to receive at least three Virginia-class boats in the 2030s before eventually transitioning to a new fleet of submarines known as SSN-AUKUS in the 2040s along with the UK.

Ed Husic, who was the industry minister last term but was dumped to the backbench by Mr Marles, asked whether the original caucus decision backing in the principle of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines still stood given the change to arrangements.

Speaking to reporters after Labor’s caucus meeting, Mr Husic said concerns over the slow submarine production rate in the United States meant it was time for members of the government to have another say on the AUKUS deal.

“You got support for the deal as it was structured back then, but that deal versus what we’ve got now are different, and I think that it now gives us a moment to think about whether or not the deal should be reconfigured, or what are the contingencies on that”.

“I’ve raised my concerns. I think there are broader concerns around if you look at the transactional nature of the Trump administration and them no doubt having expectation if they did this deal with us, what they would expect us to be using those subs for.”

During the caucus meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese replied that it had always been the plan for Australia to get some used submarines from the US and that AUKUS “is a solid and good arrangement”.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy also told caucus that the new arrangement would be easier to manage and more cost-effective than getting two different types of Virginias from the US, an argument that Mr Marles has also mounted.

He said ultimately the difference for retirement timing of a used submarine compared with a new one was a question of whether the third boat reached the end of its life in the 2060s or in 2070.

Labor MPs have broadly backed AUKUS publicly since Mr Albanese agreed to the plan when it was announced at short notice by then-prime minister Scott Morrison in 2021.

After Labor won government in 2022, it was left with responsibility for working out what is now known as the “optimal pathway”, which involves first US and UK nuclear-powered submarines being based at HMAS Stirling in Perth, then Australian buying between three and five Viriginia-class submarines before a new design, the SSN-AUKUS, is built both in the UK and locally.

However, Fremantle MP Josh Wilson led a backlash at the ALP national conference in 2023, arguing against the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. He also spoke up in Parliament about it.

The airing of the concerns in caucus on Tuesday came as former Labor minister Peter Garrett announced he would lead a national public inquiry into AUKUS, along with former Defence Force chief Chris Barrie.