AUKUS must go
SENATOR FATIMA PAYMAN
The AUKUS deal is a dangerous gamble Australia cannot afford.
First, there’s the mind-blowing cost: $368 billion. That’s money that could—and should—be spent on solving issues like housing, healthcare, and climate action.
Secondly, AUKUS diminishes Australian sovereignty by tying our defence strategy to America’s interests. We saw what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. Do we really want to keep following this path?
And let’s not forget the nuclear risks. Australia lacks the infrastructure to safely manage nuclear waste, leaving us with long-term environmental and safety hazards. Live in Perth or Adelaide? You could have nuclear waste coming your way.
Finally, this deal was negotiated in secret. A deal of this scale deserves public scrutiny, not backroom deals. There’s a reason former leaders like Premier Carmen Lawrence and former Chief of the Air Force Air Marshall Ray Funnell AC have called for an inquiry.
It’s time to scrap this reckless mistake. There is a better way forward…
what's the alternative?
“Today, adversaries are more likely to target communication systems, satellite networks, or digital infrastructure than engage in direct military conflict. That’s why Australia needs its own sovereign satellite system.”
Spending on our defence means focusing on protecting Australia’s actual interests, through investment in a self-reliant, modern defence force that strengthens our ability to safeguard our borders and uphold peace in our region.
This means investing in our own sovereign satellite capabilities to enhance Australian sovereignty and protect against modern threats. We must also seek to foster diplomacy, economic partnerships and climate cooperation with our Indo-Pacific neighbours.
A Sovereign satellite system
Cooperation with our neighbours
A Sovereign satellite system
Warfare has evolved dramatically in the modern era, moving away from traditional battles fought with tanks and troops – and submarines – to conflicts waged in cyberspace.
Today, adversaries are far more likely to target a nation’s communication systems, satellite networks, or critical digital infrastructure than engage in direct military confrontation.
That’s why Australia needs its own sovereign satellite system.
Cyberattacks, signal jamming, and sabotage of space-based systems have become key tools for destabilising nations, allowing foreign powers to cripple economies, disrupt defenses, and spread disinformation without firing a single shot.
Australia remains entirely reliant on foreign-owned satellites, primarily from the US, for essential services like communication, navigation, and Earth observation. This dependence leaves us vulnerable to service interruptions or restrictions during geopolitical tensions.
Investing in a sovereign satellite system would deliver immense benefits for Australia: creating high-tech jobs, driving technological innovation, and enhancing national security.
A homegrown satellite program would improve rural and remote connectivity, enhance disaster management, and provide critical environmental monitoring, delivering far-reaching benefits beyond defence – all for a fraction of AUKUS’s AU$368 billion price tag.
A proposed $7 billion project, which aimed to create a sovereign satellite system, was cancelled in 2024 by the Albanese government. Labor also previously scrapped other satellite plans under the guise of budget constraints.
If we truly want to “balance the budget”, then a $368 billion cut would be the way to go.
This is a transformative opportunity for Australia to take the lead, but the major parties have failed to act with the vision and courage required.
Developing our own satellite capabilities isn’t just about defence—it’s about securing Australia’s independence, fostering innovation, and preparing for the challenges of the future.
Cooperation with our neighbours
Australia’s future security and prosperity depend on fostering strong relationships with our neighbors in the Indo-Pacific, not antagonising them.
Unfortunately, the major parties have at times undermined this goal. The Morrison government’s scrapping of the submarine deal with France alienated an important European ally and created tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Similarly, Labor’s continued focus on AUKUS ties Australia to US interests, prioritising military alliances over regional diplomacy.
To build lasting trust, Australia must prioritise genuine engagement. This means increasing foreign aid to Pacific nations – which has been cut by successive governments – to ensure the don’t look to adversaries for support.
Australia could also lead regional efforts to combat climate change—an existential threat to many Pacific nations—by providing funding and expertise for renewable energy projects and climate resilience initiatives.
Economic and multilateral partnerships are equally critical. Strengthening trade ties through fair agreements and encouraging joint ventures in key industries, like clean energy, would not only benefit our neighbours but also create jobs and economic growth at home.
It’s time for a new approach—one that strengthens regional relationships, not strain them.