Australian Workers Union Boss Backs AUKUS Deal, Says He Will Oppose the ‘Fringe’ Left

An undated visualisation of what an SSN-AUKUS submarine might look like at sea, issued on March 13, 2023. (BAE)

Paul Farrow, the new leader of the right-leaning Australian Workers Union (AWU), has declared his union’s support for the trilateral AUKUS deal, saying that he will push back against the left’s attempts to oppose the $386 billion (US$257 billion) nuclear submarine deal.

This follows a warning from left-leaning former senator Doug Cameron, who said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces a contest at the national ALP conference in August over nuclear submarines, along with other issues such as “regressive” tax cuts and Palestine.

Mr. Farrow said it was the AWU’s job to cut through “some of the fringe noise that comes through our party from time to time,” adding that the AUKUS deal is “fantastic” for creating jobs, reported The Australian.

“There are many different groups within our party but some that you would question whether somehow the GPS has taken them to us instead of a greener party,” Mr. Farrow said.

“We have got to make sure that we continue to be the adults in the room and cut through that noise.”

Mr. Farrow, who succeeded Daniel Walton, said that jobs should be the focus under the AUKUS deal rather than the left’s anti-nuclear sentiment.

“People attach the word nuclear propulsion to a submarine and people have got differing views on it,” he said.

“Our view is quite strong on it. We should leave matters of national security to the experts in national security.”

“We should focus on jobs that are created as a result of these opportunities. These are highly skilled, highly specialised jobs that will be brought to our country as a result of it. It’s fantastic news. Weighing in on the other side of things should be left to the experts.”

Mr. Farrow added that the issue is only about “a form of fuel that powers the submarine.”

“I’m sure there are reasons why the government is headed down that path. Far be it for us to weigh in on what the capabilities of our defence force should or shouldn’t be.

“[V]ast amount of the industries that we represent, especially in heavy industries, are heavily impacted by energy, so when it comes to energy policy in this country, we should be looking at a long-term strategy.”

Australia Confirms It Will Comply With Nuclear Non-proliferation Obligations

In an op-ed, Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued that Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear submarines does not risk its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

“That assertion misses a crucial fact: the submarines we propose to acquire are nuclear-powered, not nuclear-armed,” she opined, adding that Australia’s proposed nuclear-powered submarines will not carry nuclear weapons.

“Other countries in the Indo-Pacific have been operating nuclear-powered submarines for decades—this is not a new capability in the region,” she wrote.

“All three AUKUS partners have pledged to uphold our legal obligations. And we understand that acquiring this critical capability comes with a responsibility to strengthen even further the non-proliferation regime.

“In both our endeavours, to enhance Australia’s defence capability and to support practical action on non-proliferation and disarmament, we seek the same goal—a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”

Chinese state-run media Global Times has previously criticised the AUKUS deal saying that the pact is used as a tool to stir trouble and create “suspicion” about the Chinese regime’s intentions to expand in the Indo-Pacific.

In May, the Albanese government established the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) by Executive Order that will manage and oversee Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

The Albanese government also established an independent statutory regulator—the Australian Nuclear-Powered Submarine Safety Regulator—which will have the functions and powers to regulate circumstances associated with nuclear safety and radiological protection across the lifecycle of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, including associated infrastructure and facilities.

Albanese Warns Policy Forum He Wants AUKUS to go Unchallenged

Mr. Albanese has warned Labor’s policy forum that he wants the AUKUS deal to go unchallenged at the upcoming ALP national conference.

The PM’s warning comes as the left faction of the Labor Party prepares to criticise the AUKUS deal, despite Mr. Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong being key figures in the left faction.

Mr. Cameron has said he would be “gobsmacked” if the AUKUS deal is not debated at the ALP conference.

“The ALP Left have a proud history of challenging bad policy at ALP Nat Conference,” Mr. Cameron tweeted.

“Would be gobsmacked if nuclear subs, regressive tax cuts and Palestine are not debated. Political discipline does not mean the Left subjugate themselves to leadership decrees on what can be debated.”

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the conference’s consideration of AUKUS was a critical test for Mr. Albanese.

“It is a multigenerational pact that requires stewardship from the major parties, and our elected national leadership,” Mr. Hastie said.

“If he (the PM) can’t deliver union support for AUKUS, how is he going to deliver nuclear submarines?”

On July 13, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee authorised the transfer of two used Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States’ own fleet to Australia and training for Australians on developing “their own Australian submarine industrial base.”

The Albanese government said the approval was “an important early step in the legislative process to streamline defence co-operation between AUKUS partners.”