‘Transfer of reactors, radioactive material’ in ‘secret’ AUKUS pact

Australia has made undisclosed ‘political commitments’ to the US and UK under a revamped AUKUS agreement, prompting demands for greater transparency.

Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden in San Diego in March 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has made undisclosed “political commitments” to the US and UK under a revamped AUKUS agreement, prompting demands for greater transparency over the $368bn nuclear submarine program.

US President Joe Biden ­revealed the new AUKUS agreement had been struck when he ­informed Congress of the development on Thursday AEST, which he said would allow the transfer of nuclear reactors and radioactive material.

The agreement will supersede a February 2022 version which ­allowed only the transfer of “naval nuclear propulsion information”.

The deal came as former Labor prime minister Paul Keating declared that the Albanese government was “ likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the US”.

He said strengthening military ties with the US would lead to Australia being dragged into conflicts started by its “aggressive” ally. “If we didn’t have an aggressive ally like the US – aggressive to others in the region – there’d be nobody attacking Australia.

“We are better left alone than we are being ‘protected’ by an ­aggressive power like the ­US,” Mr Keating told ABC’s 7.30.

Mr Biden said the AUKUS partners had also reached a “non-legally binding understanding … which reflects the governments’ intended approach to certain articles of the agreement and provides ­additional related political commitments”.

There was no mention of the new agreement or the non-binding understanding by Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, or their US counterparts Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken, after their Australia-US Ministerial Consultation talks a day earlier in ­Annapolis, Maryland.

An artist’s impression of the future SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine. Picture: BAE Systems

Former South Australian senator Rex Patrick, who previously served as a navy submariner, called on the government to explain what political commitments had been made.

“Australians have a right to know when commitments of this sort are made. Prime Minister Albanese cannot leave us in the dark,” Mr Patrick said.

The government had insisted that Virginia-class submarines to be provided by the US and future AUKUS-class submarines to be built in Adelaide “will be sovereign Australian assets operating under the complete control of the Australian government”.

But Greens’ defence spokesman David Shoebridge said the “secret political commitments” could include undertakings on how the vessels would be used.

“Make no mistake, the US will not provide nuclear submarines to Australia unless they have ­assurances they will be used when and where Washington demands,” Senator Shoebridge said.

“Is this what’s in the secret agreement? A political promise to join any future US war with China?

“The addiction to secrecy in Defence and by the Albanese government has now reached the level where we have critical strategic commitments hidden from any public scrutiny. Secret AUKUS side deals with the US are not only grossly undemocratic for Australia but they are incredibly destabilising for the region.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles, left, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after AUSMIN talks in Annapolis, Maryland, on Wednesday (AEST). Picture: Getty Images

Mr Marles said the updated pact was a “key foundational document”, but did not disclose Australia’s additional commitments.

“This underpins the provision of the Virginia-lass submarines to Australia. This will underpin the provision of the nuclear reactors that will be manufactured at Rolls Royce and put in the Australian-built nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide,” he said in a statement.

“This document is the legal underpinning of our commitment to our international obligations, so it’s a very significant step down the AUKUS path and it is another demonstration of the fact that we are making this happen.”

The government will table a copy of the revised AUKUS pact in parliament next week.

Mr Biden urged Congress to give the new agreement “favourable consideration”, and said it would contribute to the defence of all three nations.

“I have … determined that the performance of the agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defence and security,” he said.