Ideas & Society Program in partnership with La Trobe Asia: AUKUS and Australia's Future

On September 15 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the agreement of both the US and the UK to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Following its election in 2022 the government of Anthony Albanese made clear that that AUKUS was supported by Labor. Is there now any significant difference between the defence policies of the Coalition and Labor?

What exactly are the motives of the three governments involved in the AUKUS agreement--the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia?

How likely is it that Australia will in fact be supplied with the nuclear-powered submarines in the terms and in the time line specified in the AUKUS agreement?

Is it accurate to describe AUKUS as a part of a United States-led "containment" strategy in the Indo-Pacific that is aimed against China?

Given the nature of the AUKUS agreement, is it now inevitable that if there is war between the USA and China over, say, Taiwan, Australia will be obliged to be involved.

There were many further questions needing answers. Register for our next Ideas & Society Program in partnership with La Trobe Asia: AUKUS and Australia's Future to watch the discussion

Participating Chair Professor Rebecca Strating

Professor of International Relations, La Trobe University

Speaker: Emeritus Professor Hugh White AO

Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University

Seaker: Professor Peter Dean

Director, Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney