Election 2025: Peter Dutton fears for AUKUS under ALP

Peter Dutton says he holds ‘huge concern’ about the AUKUS pact under Labor, ­claiming former US president Joe Biden had initially been hesitant to enter the trilateral ­security agreement.

Former PM Scott Morrison meets former US president Joe Biden in New York in September 2021. Picture: AFP

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Peter Dutton says he holds “huge concern” about the AUKUS pact under Labor, ­claiming former US president Joe Biden had initially been hesitant to enter the trilateral ­security agreement but the ­Coalition, under Scott Morrison, had convinced the Democrat leader.

Campaigning in Perth on Friday, where he hopes to make ­significant gains to regain government, the Opposition Leader brushed off concerns that Donald Trump’s government efficiency head, Elon Musk, could seek to make cuts to the defence ­agreement.

Speaking at a business breakfast meeting at Perth’s crown casino, Mr Dutton promoted the Coalition’s track record of delivering political results, including bringgetting the AUKUS" title="Does Australia sink or swim with AUKUS?">getting the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal over the line.

“That was a Liberal government negotiating with the ­Democratic administration,” he said. “President Biden didn’t want the deal, and ultimately we were able to land it.

“The Americans hadn’t shared their nuclear secrets since the 1950s and it was a significant ­outcome, and we had worked on that. I think it demonstrates my team and I are experienced to deal with whatever comes our way.”

On a campaign visit to a ­conveyor manufacturing facility in the outer-suburban electorate of Hasluck later on Friday, Mr Dutton clarified his remarks saying the former Democrat president had held long-term anti-proliferation views.

The Opposition Leader also accused Anthony Albanese of cutting defence spending, and raised concerns about Labor’s history on defence.

“I have huge concerns about AUKUS under Anthony ­Albanese, I really do,” Mr ­Dutton said. “In relation to president Biden, president Biden had a longstanding and consistent view in relation to non-proliferation, and he’s had that his whole ­career. And to his credit, he was consistent in his views in his position. So that was the hesitation.”

Mr Albanese, who was also campaigning in Western Australia on Friday having flown from Darwin, dismissed Mr Dutton’s concern about AUKUS as an ­“irresponsible comment”.

When pressed on his concerns about the future of the security pact under Labor, Mr Dutton ­accused Labor of ripping $80bn out of defence.

“First of all, they always run defence spending down, it’s what Labor governments always do, and this government is no different,” he said.

“This is the biggest-spending government since the Whitlam government 40 years ago.

“So, first point is that we have a government that has a spending problem, but it’s not on defence, so they have cannibalised the army and navy and air force to pay for the initial parts for AUKUS. So whilst they’re telling that they’re committed, they haven’t put funding into it.

“And I think what Australians can see is this Prime Minister speaks out of both sides of his mouth. We negotiated the deal on all this because we live in an uncertain world.”

Mr Dutton criticised Mr Albanese for being “weak” on defence and refused to weigh in on suggestions the Trump White House could implement cuts to the AUKUS deal.

“I want to protect our national security from the weak Prime Minister – that’s what I want to do,” Mr Dutton said.

“The Prime Minister has taken $80bn out of defence. I want to make sure that we can invest into defence, because, as the Prime Minister says, we live in the most precarious period since 1945, and then he doesn’t do anything about it.”

Mr Dutton hammered home the ­importance of the mining and resources sector during his ­breakfast address, which was followed by a visit to manufacturer PROK, which produces conveyors for mine sites.