Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and British Defense Secretary John Healey look on as U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during an AUKUS defense ministers' press huddle at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, on May 30, 2026. Edgar Su/Reuters
Officials from the Department of Defence are yet to calculate the expected savings from the AUKUS submarine program being rejigged so that Australia buys used, and not new submarines from the United States.
The revelations emerged during a lengthy exchange between opposition defence spokesperson James Paterson and officials during an estimates hearing on June 2.
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
