ACTU’s nuclear-free defence policy at odds with government’s AUKUS plan

The union movement is at odds with Labor’s submarine plan, with the ACTU declaring that unions backed a ‘nuclear free’ defence policy.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil. Picture: AAP

Labor is at odds with its industrial wing over the government’s nuclear-powered submarine plan, with ACTU president Michele O’Neil saying unions backed a “nuclear-free defence policy” and were opposed to disposing nuclear waste in Australia.

Ms O’Neil said the anti-nuclear policy was a longstanding one, and the union movement was seeking more detail on the AUKUS plan so ACTU affiliates could discuss the policy.

“The ACTU has a longstanding policy of opposition to nuclear power, nuclear waste and proliferation,” Ms O’Neil told the National Press Club, to applause from unionists. “We also have a longstanding policy position that supports a nuclear-free defence policy.

“These are not positions that have been developed in the last weeks or months. They’re decades long, and our position hasn’t changed.”

Her comments are a blow for the Albanese government just weeks after its “optimal pathway” to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines was unveiled, and follow Paul Keating’s condemnation of the plan as “the “worst deal in all of history”.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the ACTU position was “disappointing and disheartening”, and called on the government to bring the union movement into line. “It’s particularly damaging when the government has clearly articulated our strategic need for submarines, and has promised creation of 20,000 local jobs,” Mr Hastie said.

He urged the ACTU to reflect on its position “and adapt, as our strategic circumstances demand”.

“We call on the Albanese government to exercise leadership in bringing together its union wing in the national interest,” he said.

We in opposition are playing our part. We hope the Albanese government can play theirs.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles’ office said the government had committed to “continue talking to the Australian people about why and how we are undertaking this important endeavour”.

The union backlash came a week after West Australian Labor MP Josh Wilson challenged Anthony Albanese’s position that nuclear-powered submarines were the best option for Australia, and raised concerns over their impact on nuclear proliferation. Labor MPs Libby Coker, Michelle Ananda-Rajah and Jerome Laxale also questioned the acquisition in a caucus meeting last week, and the plan was condemned by former Labor environment minister Peter Garrett, former science minister Kim Carr, former foreign minister Bob Carr, and former senator Doug Cameron.

Under the AUKUS plan unveiled a fortnight ago, Australia will buy three to five Virginia-class submarines from the US from 2033, while building eight new AUKUS-class submarines with US and British support.

Union backing will be vital to deliver the AUKUS plan, which will require up to 4000 workers to design and build new shipyard facilities in Adelaide, another 3000 workers to deliver infrastructure upgrades at Perth’s HMAS Stirling, and a direct workforce of more than 20,000 tradespeople and professionals over three decades to build the eight new boats.

Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions convener Glenn Thompson did not reject the acquisition of nuclear-powered subs when the plan was announced, focusing instead on the vagueness of the government’s workforce and industrial plans.

“We’re concerned that (the) AUKUS pact will not deliver the necessary developments to Australia’s shipbuilding and defence industrial capabilities … by developing a workforce with thousands of jobs being created over the next several decades,” he said.

“We’ve continuously said that to build the workforce, you need to build something. We are calling on the government to spell out what local shipbuilding workers are going to build to ensure a base workforce of at least 5000 jobs at the commencement of the future submarine program.”