Alice Grundy
Research Manager

A new secret committee will consider AUKUS and Australia’s military engagements according to the Guardian. This move is consistent with past AUKUS practices, shrouded in secrecy, even though this policy represents the biggest transfer of sovereign wealth in Australia’s history.

When Australia adopted AUKUS, there was no review from DFAT or Treasury, no parliamentary inquiry. It didn’t even go to cabinet.

Now the Labor Government has created a new committee consisting only of Labor and Coalition MPs, excluding the cross-bench and the Greens and continuing a culture of poor transparency.

Australia Institute polling research from November 2025, shows 37% of Australians don’t know if AUKUS makes Australia safer, an increase of 6% from polling just three months earlier.  

With so much uncertainty, Australia needs a real inquiry, not a rubber stamp from major party MPs.

You can join more than 30,000 people calling for a parliamentary inquiry into AUKUS here.