Greens Pledge to Cancel AUKUS, Cut Australian Defence Spending Amid China Tensions

Greens Leader Adam Bandt, Senator Nick McKim and Senator Mehreen Faruqi during a press conference in the Senate Courtyard at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on May 12, 2021. Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The Australian Greens have pledged to push for sweeping changes to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) if they hold the balance of power at the next election, including cuts to defence spending and cancellation of the AUKUS alliance.

However, such a pledge would come amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, including Beijing’s militarisation in the South China Sea.