SUBMISSION to AUKUS Public Inquiry – Christine Hooper

Why not JUST underwater drones ( Pillar 2?) for surveillance and security rather
than subs? It seems that’s the way to go but we end up with old school and now
second hand old school. Subs are known to need a lot of money for refurbishment
and maintenance. Can we afford this whole thing? So why go down this path? It
seems we are tied to America to our detriment.

6 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wqnq1Fts4PfMIVN8smmpGJI9uLx_P__l/view

AUKUS seems to be trumped up (no pun intended) to funnel money to the US and
UK. It seems that the submarines will not arrive in a timely manner if at all.
America is struggling to build its own subs and the UK sounds like it’s in disarray in
terms of submarine building. Will we actually receive these submarines? From
what I have read it seems highly unlikely.

Where will the submarines and “visiting” US submarines dock? Do we want nuclear
submarines docking close to major Australian cities? I think not. Will there be safe
guards against any nuclear accident? How will the submarines be refueled with
nuclear “energy”? Where will that nuclear substance be manufactured and stored?

Why would we suddenly welcome nuclear powered craft near our cities…or
anywhere for that matter?

Where will the ports be built and will any natural environment be destroyed to
build them?

There has been no transparency re this deal- no discussion. It was just announced.
Why not JUST underwater drones ( Pillar 2?) for surveillance and security rather
than subs? It seems that’s the way to go but we end up with old school and now
second hand old school. Subs are known to need a lot of money for refurbishment
and maintenance. Can we afford this whole thing? So why go down this path? It
seems we are tied to America to our detriment.

Can we afford this when we’re in economic downturn? People are in need of
financial help and there are many homeless. Shouldn’t this money be spent on
these issues?

Are we really potentially under threat? Or is this an American beat up to try to
remain the major “power”?
It just doesn’t make sense.