Greens senator and US politician clash over submarine deal

A Greens senator and a former Trump navy secretary have traded barbs over the AUKUS agreement while appearing on the ABC’s Q&A program.

An Australian senator and a former US Navy secretary, who served under Donald Trump, have argued over Australia’s $368bn AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal.

Greens senator Jordan Steele-John and Richard V. Spencer were both guests on the ABC’s Q&A panel on Monday night, when the subject of the Defence agreement was brought up.

Greens senator Jordan Steele-John and former US navy secretary Richard Spencer argued over the $368bn AUKUS nuclear submarine deal on Monday's episode of Q&A.

Senator Steele-John reiterating the Greens’ position that the AUKUS deal should be scrapped in order to fund projects like dental being included in Medicare and more social housing.

Host Stan Grant then threw the matter over to Mr Spencer, who asked Senator Steele-John: “How (do you) sustain national security?”

“Diplomacy, Richard,” Senator Steele-John hit back, his comment met with sporadic applause and laughter from some members of the Q&A audience.

What is being done to create a more sustainable way to manage nuclear waste ahead of the submarine deal? #QandApic.twitter.com/Y0Mclc7qM1

— QandA (@QandA) March 27, 2023

“I do not want the Australian community bound for the next 30 years to the United States and the UK and to your foreign policy decisions,” he continued.

“I do not want our nation round the table trying to convince whichever right-wing, conservative evangelical you elect next. I don’t want it, and I don’t want our kids going to the wars they will start.”

“I totally understand,” Mr Spencer responded. “If you think that I want your treasure and my treasure going off to war, you are wildly mistaken.

“The reason you have strong national security is to give your (foreign ministry) one more day to make their point.”

“Everyone’s had their Weet-Bix tonight, haven’t they?” Grant joked, changing the subject.

Australia will acquire at least eight nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines under the AUKUS deal but potentially up to 13. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Wainwright

Under the AUKUS agreement, originally signed by former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison in September 2021, Australia will acquire eight Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines under the technology-sharing deal.

The sheer cost of the pact has been the matter of no small debate since details of the agreement were revealed earlier in March, as well as concerns over the effectiveness of the Virginia-class subs by the time the final three are delivered some time in the 2060s.

Originally published as Greens senator and US politician clash over submarine deal