The sudden resignation of UK Defence Secretary John Healey hours before a scheduled meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has prompted fresh scrutiny of the AUKUS security pact, with the Labor government insisting the trilateral agreement remains on track.
Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres moved quickly to reassure Australians that the departure of one of the UK’s most senior defence figures would not derail the multi-billion-dollar submarine partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States.
