AFL plays hardball on stadium amid Tasmanian political turmoil
The AFL Commission has told club presidents it will not budge on its demand for a new, roofed stadium in Tasmania despite warnings from local politicians that the cost of the plan has been a factor in the collapse of the state government.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff was preparing to visit Governor Barbara Baker on Tuesday evening to ask her to dissolve parliament following a vote of no-confidence in the Tasmanian leader over his government's handling of the state's finances.
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The Advertiser
20 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Australia plays down US review of AUKUS submarine deal
Australia has played down a US Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact, despite concerns about the future of the nuclear submarine component of the deal. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia will 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. The three-nation partnership is between the US, Australia, and the UK, and was signed in 2021 under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison and the US Biden administration. The Pentagon will consider whether the pact is in line with US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the US had advised Australia and the UK of the review. "We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review," he said in a statement on Thursday. "It is natural that the administration would want to examine this major undertaking, including progress and delivery." Mr Marles pointed to the UK's recently completed AUKUS review, which reaffirmed its support. "We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump administration on this historic project," he said. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US, and warn that the deal might jeopardise the American navy's capabilities or undermine Australia's defence sovereignty. Australia paid the US almost $800 million in February - the first of a number of payments - to help boost its US submarine industrial base. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Mr Marles during a meeting in Singapore this month that Australia should lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, or output. Australia's defence spending is on track to hit around 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033/34. Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, US Congressman Joe Courtney, on Thursday warned against dumping the AUKUS deal. "To walk away from all the sunk costs invested by our two closest allies - Australia and the United Kingdom - will have far-reaching ramifications on our trustworthiness on the global stage," he said. "(It) is a direct contradiction to the administration's 'America First, but not alone' goal of countering aggression from China, Russia, and other adversaries." Opposition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie said the US review was a "deeply concerning development" ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's departure for the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese hopes to have a meeting with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the gathering in Alberta. "Any undermining of this serious and substantial alliance between our two countries should be of grave concern to all of us," Senator McKenzie told Nine's Today show. Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said it was time the government held its own inquiry into the "dud deal". "We need an independent defence and foreign policy, that does not require us to bend our will and shovel wealth to an increasingly erratic and reckless Trump USA," he said. Australia has played down a US Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact, despite concerns about the future of the nuclear submarine component of the deal. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia will 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. The three-nation partnership is between the US, Australia, and the UK, and was signed in 2021 under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison and the US Biden administration. The Pentagon will consider whether the pact is in line with US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the US had advised Australia and the UK of the review. "We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review," he said in a statement on Thursday. "It is natural that the administration would want to examine this major undertaking, including progress and delivery." Mr Marles pointed to the UK's recently completed AUKUS review, which reaffirmed its support. "We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump administration on this historic project," he said. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US, and warn that the deal might jeopardise the American navy's capabilities or undermine Australia's defence sovereignty. Australia paid the US almost $800 million in February - the first of a number of payments - to help boost its US submarine industrial base. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Mr Marles during a meeting in Singapore this month that Australia should lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, or output. Australia's defence spending is on track to hit around 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033/34. Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, US Congressman Joe Courtney, on Thursday warned against dumping the AUKUS deal. "To walk away from all the sunk costs invested by our two closest allies - Australia and the United Kingdom - will have far-reaching ramifications on our trustworthiness on the global stage," he said. "(It) is a direct contradiction to the administration's 'America First, but not alone' goal of countering aggression from China, Russia, and other adversaries." Opposition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie said the US review was a "deeply concerning development" ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's departure for the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese hopes to have a meeting with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the gathering in Alberta. "Any undermining of this serious and substantial alliance between our two countries should be of grave concern to all of us," Senator McKenzie told Nine's Today show. Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said it was time the government held its own inquiry into the "dud deal". "We need an independent defence and foreign policy, that does not require us to bend our will and shovel wealth to an increasingly erratic and reckless Trump USA," he said. Australia has played down a US Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact, despite concerns about the future of the nuclear submarine component of the deal. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia will 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. The three-nation partnership is between the US, Australia, and the UK, and was signed in 2021 under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison and the US Biden administration. The Pentagon will consider whether the pact is in line with US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the US had advised Australia and the UK of the review. "We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review," he said in a statement on Thursday. "It is natural that the administration would want to examine this major undertaking, including progress and delivery." Mr Marles pointed to the UK's recently completed AUKUS review, which reaffirmed its support. "We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump administration on this historic project," he said. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US, and warn that the deal might jeopardise the American navy's capabilities or undermine Australia's defence sovereignty. Australia paid the US almost $800 million in February - the first of a number of payments - to help boost its US submarine industrial base. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Mr Marles during a meeting in Singapore this month that Australia should lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, or output. Australia's defence spending is on track to hit around 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033/34. Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, US Congressman Joe Courtney, on Thursday warned against dumping the AUKUS deal. "To walk away from all the sunk costs invested by our two closest allies - Australia and the United Kingdom - will have far-reaching ramifications on our trustworthiness on the global stage," he said. "(It) is a direct contradiction to the administration's 'America First, but not alone' goal of countering aggression from China, Russia, and other adversaries." Opposition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie said the US review was a "deeply concerning development" ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's departure for the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese hopes to have a meeting with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the gathering in Alberta. "Any undermining of this serious and substantial alliance between our two countries should be of grave concern to all of us," Senator McKenzie told Nine's Today show. Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said it was time the government held its own inquiry into the "dud deal". "We need an independent defence and foreign policy, that does not require us to bend our will and shovel wealth to an increasingly erratic and reckless Trump USA," he said. Australia has played down a US Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact, despite concerns about the future of the nuclear submarine component of the deal. Under the $368 billion agreement, Australia will 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. The three-nation partnership is between the US, Australia, and the UK, and was signed in 2021 under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison and the US Biden administration. The Pentagon will consider whether the pact is in line with US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy. Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed the US had advised Australia and the UK of the review. "We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review," he said in a statement on Thursday. "It is natural that the administration would want to examine this major undertaking, including progress and delivery." Mr Marles pointed to the UK's recently completed AUKUS review, which reaffirmed its support. "We look forward to continuing our close co-operation with the Trump administration on this historic project," he said. Critics of AUKUS point to the lagging production of boats in the US, and warn that the deal might jeopardise the American navy's capabilities or undermine Australia's defence sovereignty. Australia paid the US almost $800 million in February - the first of a number of payments - to help boost its US submarine industrial base. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Mr Marles during a meeting in Singapore this month that Australia should lift its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, or output. Australia's defence spending is on track to hit around 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033/34. Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, US Congressman Joe Courtney, on Thursday warned against dumping the AUKUS deal. "To walk away from all the sunk costs invested by our two closest allies - Australia and the United Kingdom - will have far-reaching ramifications on our trustworthiness on the global stage," he said. "(It) is a direct contradiction to the administration's 'America First, but not alone' goal of countering aggression from China, Russia, and other adversaries." Opposition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie said the US review was a "deeply concerning development" ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's departure for the G7 summit in Canada on Sunday. Mr Albanese hopes to have a meeting with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the gathering in Alberta. "Any undermining of this serious and substantial alliance between our two countries should be of grave concern to all of us," Senator McKenzie told Nine's Today show. Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said it was time the government held its own inquiry into the "dud deal". "We need an independent defence and foreign policy, that does not require us to bend our will and shovel wealth to an increasingly erratic and reckless Trump USA," he said.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Richard Marles says Government warned about Pentagon AUKUS review
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has suggested it is time for the Australian Government to 'wake up' as both the UK and the US 'review' the AUKUS deal. 'The UK is conducting a review of AUKUS,' he said on X. 'The US DoD is conducting a review of AUKUS. 'But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review. 'Our Parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed. Time to wake up?' Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says it's 'natural' that the Trump Adminstation would want to review the AUKUS agreement after the Pentagon launched an inquiery to ensure it met US President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda. 'We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review. The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review. '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. '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.' Read the full story.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
AUKUS defence pact 'being reviewed' by US government
The US government is reportedly reviewing the AUKUS trilateral defence agreement between Australia, the UK and the US. The decision to conduct a review has been reported by multiple news outlets including Reuters, which cited US defence officials without giving further details. The review will reportedly examine whether the pact is in line with US President Donald Trump's 'America First' policy, according to the ABC which also cited a Pentagon source. AUKUS is a three-nation security alliance between Australia, the UK and the US agreed in 2021 under the prime ministership of ex-Liberal leader Scott Morrison. It was formed to counter China's strategic moves in the Pacific arena and was underpinned by an agreement between the US and the UK to provide Australia with access to nuclear-powered submarine technology, to eventually replace its aging Collins-class boats. The deal is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, although the first submarine is not expected to join the Australian fleet for years. Australia, which in February made the first of six $US500 million (about $800 million) payments to the US for the boats, is expected to initially buy between three and five off-the-shelf Virginia-class boats. At the time, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Mr Trump was supportive of the AUKUS deal. "The president is very aware, supportive of AUKUS," Mr Hegseth said after a meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles. "(He) recognises the importance of the defence industrial base." Mr Marles responded that the pair had discussed how the US and Australia could advance their longstanding diplomatic relationship in terms of national security, including AUKUS. Australia's military budget is expected to rise to 2.3 per cent of gross domestic product, or output, by 2034. The US regime has already called for Australia to increase that spending to around 3.5 per cent. Australia tore up its $90 billion diesel-powered submarine deal with France to sign on to AUKUS and is contracted to buy several off-the-shelf submarines costing about $US4 billion each, before making its own. The first Australian-made boats are not due to be operational until the 2040s.
