Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Let's be very clear, AUKUS under Trump will mean nuclear waste, taxpayer waste and a big fat nuclear target on Australia. It will be $368 billion on nuclear submarines in a cost-of-living crisis where people are struggling to pay for groceries and rent, $368 billion on nuclear subs when almost half of Australians want this reviewed after the election of Trump and $368 billion on nuclear subs that we might, but very likely won't, see by the 2040s. By then we will probably need submarines to navigate rising sea levels because we did not invest in renewables. Labor say we need to tighten our belts, even with cuts to JobSeeker and the NDIS, but somehow they have got $368 billion to spend on something Australians do not want. And let's not forget the nuclear waste, because, clearly, what Australia needs is a more toxic nuclear waste to dispose of.

AUKUS is not making us safer; it is tying us to conflicts that we do not want and decisions we do not make. Do we really want our defence policy shaped by a demagogue like Donald Trump, who once suggested nuking hurricanes? Albanese is busy buttering up Trump—and Dutton is trying to beat him. Meanwhile, Australians are struggling to afford basic needs. Imagine what $368 billion could do: build affordable housing, provide life-saving health care and drive a renewable energy revolution. These are the real foundations of a secure nation. This is not just bad policy; it is a betrayal. Australians deserve leaders who will prioritise their wellbeing over weapons deals. The Prime Minister must remember who he works for. He must pull the plug on AUKUS and instead invest in housing, health care and renewable energy—things Australians need today for a safer, fairer tomorrow.