The defence minister has been zipping around the world, promising even more public funds for weapons’ procurement and development for wars being concocted by the Donald Trump administration
It’s not entirely clear what Richard Marles most recent visit to Washington was about other than another kowtow to the “strong partnership” between Australia and the United States.
However, Marles gave more details about his September visit to Japan.
He gushed that Australia and Japan are “steadfast” in their “commitment to working with the United States” and announced a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build Mogami-class frigates — a “larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet” to replace Anzac-class frigates. The first of these new weapons, equipped for undersea warfare and air attack, is expected in 2029.
As the controversial AUKUS military pact moves into its third year, Australia, as the US’ deputy sheriff in the Asia Pacific, is drawing Japan in to the military alliance.
More than 1500 Japanese troops took part Talisman Sabre this year and Japan has committed to more joint military exercises as well as its intention to conduct an inaugural regional air and missile defence live-fire event at Talisman Sabre 2027.
AUKUS is squarely aimed at China which is Australia’s biggest trading partner. At the same time, Marles boasts that Labor is allocating tens of billions of public funding to defence to “secure” maritime trade routes — trade which is mostly done with China.
Not to be outdone, the now former Shadow Defence Industry Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price told Sky News on September 1 that Japanese troops should be stationed in Darwin. She’d convinced that Labor is downplaying AUKUS and the government needs to lift its spending on defence, acceding to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s demands.
Australia has already doled out at least $1.6 billion on down payments to US shipyards under the AUKUS deal. This is despite two thirds of Australians wanting AUKUS reviewed, and less than half saying it will make us safer.
AUKUS makes Labor’s commitment to boosting defence spending to 2.33% of GDP by 2033 inevitable. Overall spending on defence is budgeted to grow by 30% over the next four years, reaching a whopping $22.5 billion by 2028-29.
Marles has fully embraced former Coalition defence minister, now weapons industry lobbyist, Christopher Pyne’s 2018 blueprint for Australia to become one of the top 10 weapons manufacturers. Pyne established a $3.8 billion loan scheme for defence companies seeking financial assistance to sell weapons and equipment overseas.
In 2012-2016 Australia was the world’s 20th largest arms exporter. By 2020-2024, it had crept to 17th place, just ahead of Iran.
Labor’s commitment to this lethal export industry makes it complicit in the manufacture of specialised parts, or materiel, for sophisticated death machines, such as the F-35 fighter jets being used to wipe out Palestinians in Gaza.
The complicated supply chain for these death machines does not excuse Australia. Until metal shops, such as Bisalloy Steel, which supplies armour plate steel for weapons being used by the illegal Israeli Occupation Forces in the West Bank and SEC Plating, which manufactures engineering coatings and finishes for F-35 fighter jets, refuse to aid and abet genocide, they will be the target of anti-genocide protests.
The lack of transparency around where the killing machines, technology and expertise officially — and unofficially — should worry us all. Labor’s move to weaken freedom of information laws makes the task of finding out even harder.
Labor has projected the defence budget to grow by 30% over the next four years, reaching $22.5 billion by 2028-29. Males’ latest weapons announcement about the Ghost Shark, an autonomous undersea vehicle, comes with a price tag of $1.7 billion. It is being developed with US weapons’ manufacturer Anduril Industries, which focuses on military-use autonomous drones and sensors.
There is never any public consultation on where such enormous sums of our money are allocated, because if that happened most of us would demand affordable housing, and public infrastructure and services.
On top of all the new killing machines, the AUKUS military pact rests on the fundamental principle that Australia becomes subservient to the US foreign policy agenda — shown up by Labor’s refusal to implement sanctions on Israel or stop the two-way arms trade.
AUKUS makes it more, not less, likely for Australia to be involved in a US war on China. But that’s not because governments have had no say. It’s because Labor has chosen to be the US’ deputy sheriff in the Asia-Pacific, a choice most of us reject.
If you too want AUKUS scrapped, become a Green Left supporter for as little as $10 a month (hard copy and digital) and make a donation to our Fighting Fund. You can also sign the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network petition.