The PM was interviewed on ABC radio in Melbourne this morning.

He took calls from listeners.

Alan (I’m going to say Alan is from Allansford because I loved ‘footy talkback’ on the Coodabeen Champions on the same station) is our caller of the day.

ALAN FROM ALLANSFORD: A few years ago we upset our French colleagues by cancelling a submarine contract. Why don’t we cancel the US submarine contract and go back to France again? If that means scrapping AUKUS as well, then so be it.
RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: PM?
PRIME MINISTER: Because we believe that AUKUS is in the interest of defending our
nation. We think it’s in Australia’s interest. And whilst we regard this as an act of self harm
by the United States when it comes to their economy, what I’m not prepared to do is do
anything that is not in Australia’s interests.

For what it’s worth, we agree with Alan from Allansford … but not as an act of revenge against the little orange man’s tariff nonsense.

AUKUS is a dead set dud.

The incomparable Allan Behm (different Allan) lays it out chapter and verse here.