Scott Morrison handed highest recognition in King's Birthday honours
National
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been handed the highest recognition in this year's King's Birthday honours list.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Least curious and least informed': what is AUKUS and why does it matter?
A US review of the contentious AUKUS deal has revived public debate in Australia about how our nation got involved and what we're expected to get out of it - at what cost. AUKUS is a three-nation security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, brokered in 2021 when Scott Morrison was prime minister. Mr Morrison controversially dumped a deal with France to supply diesel-powered submarines in favour of the partnership which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered submarines instead. Pulling out of that deal ultimately cost Australian taxpayers about $3.4 billion and strained diplomatic relations with France. AUKUS is widely seen as response to China's strategic moves and growing influence in the Pacific. Under the partnership, Australia is set to acquire three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s before a new fleet of boats is built for delivery from the 2040s. But the US is lagging in production of the boats, and the American president can sink the deal if his navy's capabilities are at risk, which is why the review flagged by the Pentagon has some people worried. It's estimated AUKUS will cost Australia about $368 billion and ultimately deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, some of which would come from the US. In February, Australia made the first of six $800 million payments to the US under the deal. The UK recently completed a review of its involvement in AUKUS review and reiterated its support. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US and have warned the deal might jeopardise the US navy's capabilities. The US is also pressuring Australia to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, while President Donald Trump wants to double tariffs on imported steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull took to social media on June 12 to declare America's AUKUS review was a "wake up call". "But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed," he wrote on X. "Time to wake up?" Former South Australian independent senator and transparency warrior Rex Patrick said it was time to "pull the plug" on AUKUS. "The program is an unaffordable, sovereign sapping and highly risky defence acquisition - a huge blunder of [Scott Morrison], embraced by [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese]," he wrote, also on X. "Trump will likely demand more $ billions, or else exit. We should pull the plug." Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, played down the US review, saying it was "natural" the Trump administration would want to re-examine the partnership, which was forged under the leadership of former president Joe Biden. A US review of the contentious AUKUS deal has revived public debate in Australia about how our nation got involved and what we're expected to get out of it - at what cost. AUKUS is a three-nation security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, brokered in 2021 when Scott Morrison was prime minister. Mr Morrison controversially dumped a deal with France to supply diesel-powered submarines in favour of the partnership which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered submarines instead. Pulling out of that deal ultimately cost Australian taxpayers about $3.4 billion and strained diplomatic relations with France. AUKUS is widely seen as response to China's strategic moves and growing influence in the Pacific. Under the partnership, Australia is set to acquire three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s before a new fleet of boats is built for delivery from the 2040s. But the US is lagging in production of the boats, and the American president can sink the deal if his navy's capabilities are at risk, which is why the review flagged by the Pentagon has some people worried. It's estimated AUKUS will cost Australia about $368 billion and ultimately deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, some of which would come from the US. In February, Australia made the first of six $800 million payments to the US under the deal. The UK recently completed a review of its involvement in AUKUS review and reiterated its support. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US and have warned the deal might jeopardise the US navy's capabilities. The US is also pressuring Australia to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, while President Donald Trump wants to double tariffs on imported steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull took to social media on June 12 to declare America's AUKUS review was a "wake up call". "But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed," he wrote on X. "Time to wake up?" Former South Australian independent senator and transparency warrior Rex Patrick said it was time to "pull the plug" on AUKUS. "The program is an unaffordable, sovereign sapping and highly risky defence acquisition - a huge blunder of [Scott Morrison], embraced by [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese]," he wrote, also on X. "Trump will likely demand more $ billions, or else exit. We should pull the plug." Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, played down the US review, saying it was "natural" the Trump administration would want to re-examine the partnership, which was forged under the leadership of former president Joe Biden. A US review of the contentious AUKUS deal has revived public debate in Australia about how our nation got involved and what we're expected to get out of it - at what cost. AUKUS is a three-nation security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, brokered in 2021 when Scott Morrison was prime minister. Mr Morrison controversially dumped a deal with France to supply diesel-powered submarines in favour of the partnership which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered submarines instead. Pulling out of that deal ultimately cost Australian taxpayers about $3.4 billion and strained diplomatic relations with France. AUKUS is widely seen as response to China's strategic moves and growing influence in the Pacific. Under the partnership, Australia is set to acquire three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s before a new fleet of boats is built for delivery from the 2040s. But the US is lagging in production of the boats, and the American president can sink the deal if his navy's capabilities are at risk, which is why the review flagged by the Pentagon has some people worried. It's estimated AUKUS will cost Australia about $368 billion and ultimately deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, some of which would come from the US. In February, Australia made the first of six $800 million payments to the US under the deal. The UK recently completed a review of its involvement in AUKUS review and reiterated its support. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US and have warned the deal might jeopardise the US navy's capabilities. The US is also pressuring Australia to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, while President Donald Trump wants to double tariffs on imported steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull took to social media on June 12 to declare America's AUKUS review was a "wake up call". "But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed," he wrote on X. "Time to wake up?" Former South Australian independent senator and transparency warrior Rex Patrick said it was time to "pull the plug" on AUKUS. "The program is an unaffordable, sovereign sapping and highly risky defence acquisition - a huge blunder of [Scott Morrison], embraced by [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese]," he wrote, also on X. "Trump will likely demand more $ billions, or else exit. We should pull the plug." Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, played down the US review, saying it was "natural" the Trump administration would want to re-examine the partnership, which was forged under the leadership of former president Joe Biden. A US review of the contentious AUKUS deal has revived public debate in Australia about how our nation got involved and what we're expected to get out of it - at what cost. AUKUS is a three-nation security pact between Australia, the US and the UK, brokered in 2021 when Scott Morrison was prime minister. Mr Morrison controversially dumped a deal with France to supply diesel-powered submarines in favour of the partnership which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered submarines instead. Pulling out of that deal ultimately cost Australian taxpayers about $3.4 billion and strained diplomatic relations with France. AUKUS is widely seen as response to China's strategic moves and growing influence in the Pacific. Under the partnership, Australia is set to acquire three Virginia-class submarines from the US in the early 2030s before a new fleet of boats is built for delivery from the 2040s. But the US is lagging in production of the boats, and the American president can sink the deal if his navy's capabilities are at risk, which is why the review flagged by the Pentagon has some people worried. It's estimated AUKUS will cost Australia about $368 billion and ultimately deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines, some of which would come from the US. In February, Australia made the first of six $800 million payments to the US under the deal. The UK recently completed a review of its involvement in AUKUS review and reiterated its support. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US and have warned the deal might jeopardise the US navy's capabilities. The US is also pressuring Australia to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, while President Donald Trump wants to double tariffs on imported steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull took to social media on June 12 to declare America's AUKUS review was a "wake up call". "But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. Our parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed," he wrote on X. "Time to wake up?" Former South Australian independent senator and transparency warrior Rex Patrick said it was time to "pull the plug" on AUKUS. "The program is an unaffordable, sovereign sapping and highly risky defence acquisition - a huge blunder of [Scott Morrison], embraced by [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese]," he wrote, also on X. "Trump will likely demand more $ billions, or else exit. We should pull the plug." Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, played down the US review, saying it was "natural" the Trump administration would want to re-examine the partnership, which was forged under the leadership of former president Joe Biden.
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Wouldn't overread that': Scott Morrison plays down Pentagon's AUKUS review amid concerns
Former prime minister Scott Morrison – who secured the AUKUS deal for Australia when he was in office – has spoken to Sky News Australia about the US reviewing the important security pact. Mr Morrison urged people not to 'over-interpret' this and to 'keep things in perspective' as the AUKUS agreement is now in limbo. 'The US has every right to go and look at things from time to time; I wouldn't overread that,' he said.
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Debacle': Malcolm Turnbull trashes Aussie sub ‘fiasco' as Trump administration announces review into deal
Malcolm Turnbull has warned the AUKUS nuclear power submarine deal risks becoming a billion-dollar 'fiasco' for Australia as the United States announces a bombshell review into its future. Australia made its first AUKUS down payment to the US in February, transferring nearly $800 million to help boost the country's submarine production. Overnight, The Trump Administration announced its biggest AUKUS sceptic Elbridge Colby will head a review into whether the US should pull out of the submarine deal with Australia. Now former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told that the 'terrible deal' inked by Scott Morrison had always included a clause or caveat that no submarines will be handed over unless it had submarines to spare. 'So this is a risk that Australia has taken with its eyes wide open,'' Mr Turnbull said. 'It will be a fiasco, I think. So that's one alternative. Another alternative is to go back to France. They've been double crossed once before. 'It is a debacle. I've been saying this for years. It was a debacle when Morrison recklessly entered into it, and it was a debacle when Labor, to avoid a political wedge, went along. 'It's fundamentally a bad deal. I'm not saying naval nuclear propulsion is a bad idea. It's a good idea, but it's, you know, a very expensive one, and you sure you can pay for it. 'But the, but the problem with this deal is it's so asymmetrical, you know, we give the Americans $3 billion, they only have to give us submarines if they feel they could spare them. 'This whole exercise is designed to get us nuclear powered submarines, but the upshot could be that we end up with no submarines at all.' 'All or nothing' submarine deal Australia's former US ambassador Joe Hockey said Australia's defence spending is likely being used by Washington as an excuse to launch a review into the AUKUS pact. Speaking with ABC's Radio National Breakfast, Joe Hockey said the deal was 'all or nothing'. 'If we don't get the Virginia Class submarines in 2032, we have no options left. We have no submarines,' he said. 'So this is all or nothing for Australia. And for the sake of our national security, we need to make sure that we can at least provide some deterrent for potential hostile threats to our nations.' 'We have something to trade on AUKUS. Not only are we paying for our submarines, not only have we paid forward with a $500m check but an Australian company that most people have never heard of, called Austal, is actually helping build the AUKUS submarines … so not only are we paying for them, we're helping to build them. 'That's the sort of trade that Donald Trump would not be aware of'. Defence Minister Richard Marles reacts to AUKUS news Defence Minister Richard Marles has broken his silence on US moves to review the AUKUS security pact insisting the US and Australia remained committed to the deal. 'The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review,'' he said on Thursday morning. 'It is natural that the Administration would want to examine this major undertaking including progress and delivery, just as the UK Government recently concluded an AUKUS review and reaffirmed its support including through the appointment of Sir Stephen Lovegrove as its AUKUS Adviser. 'All three countries are committed to ensuring AUKUS meets national and trilateral objectives. 'Importantly, AUKUS will grow both the US and Australian defence industry as well as generating thousands of new manufacturing jobs. 'There is bipartisan support in the United States with the passage of important provisions in the National Defence Authorization Act in 2023 to enable the transfer of US Virginia class submarines to Australia, and to enable Australians to work on maintenance activities of US Virginia class submarines.' 'Our engagement with the Trump Administration and across the full political spectrum in the United States has shown clear and consistent support for AUKUS. 'We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the Trump Administration on this historic project.' The Prime Minister discussed the AUKUS deal in a phone call with President Trump on February 11 and as recently as May 5. The Deputy Prime Minister also discussed AUKUS with Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth May 30, just 12 days ago. 'Catastrophic' move A former top advisor to US President Donald Trump has warned that cancelling the AUKUS pact would be 'catastrophic'. John Bolton, who served as President Trump's national security advisor, told Nine the review is likely aimed at scaling back AUKUS, or abandoning the pact altogether. 'It's more a question of how much of a downsize (of AUKUS) they are looking at, including potentially total cancellation — which would be catastrophic, a huge mistake for the US with enormous consequences for Australia and the UK.' Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned that Beijing would be cheering at the news. 'News that the Trump Administration is considering backing away from AUKUS will be met with cheers in Beijing, which is already celebrating America's global pullback and our strained ties with allies under President Trump,' Senator Shaheen said. 'Scrapping this partnership would further tarnish America's reputation and raise more questions among our closest defence partners and our reliability.' In a statement, the Pentagon confirmed the review was aimed at ensuring AUKUS served the best interests of the United States. 'The Department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous Administration is aligned with the President's America First agenda,' the statement said. 'As (Defence) Secretary (Pete) Hegseth has made clear, this means ensuring the highest readiness of our servicemembers, that allies step up fully to do their part for collective defence, and that the defence industrial base is meeting our needs,' the Pentagon said. 'This review will ensure the initiative meets these common sense, America First criteria.'
