Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has characterised the AUKUS trilateral defence pact as a “terrible deal” for Australia. Expressing his concerns during an interview at Parliament House in Canberra, Turnbull voiced that the agreement, which involves the procurement of nuclear submarines from the United States, may ultimately leave Australia without any submarines of its own. He stated, “AUKUS is a terrible deal. It is so unfair to Australia.”
Turnbull elaborated further, suggesting that the deal not only jeopardises Australia’s sovereignty and security but also represents a significant financial loss. “We will have lost both sovereignty and security, and a lot of money as well,” he remarked, emphasising the inadequacy of the pact.
When asked about former US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the AUKUS agreement, Turnbull reasoned that Trump would naturally support it, labelling it as a detrimental arrangement for Australia. “Of course he’d like it, it’s such a bad deal for us,” he noted. He speculated on Trump’s perspective, indicating the former president might view Australians as naïve for agreeing to such terms.
Turnbull’s criticisms did not end there; he likened the situation to a “fiasco” during an earlier discussion on ABC Radio Sydney. He expressed doubt over the likelihood of Australia ever receiving the promised Virginia-class submarines, describing it as “almost certain” that Australia would not gain access to them.
The Albanese government has already made a payment of approximately USD $500 million (AUD $798 million) as part of its obligations under the AUKUS framework, showcasing the financial commitment involved.
While the AUKUS deal aims to bolster security cooperation and support an open Indo-Pacific, Turnbull’s staunch opposition highlights growing concerns regarding the true benefits and risks associated with the agreement. He reiterated that Australia might end up empty-handed, lamenting a potential loss of both strategic autonomy and economic resources, thus calling into question the viability of the partnership in safeguarding Australia’s interests moving forward.