Australia is spending up to $368 billion on AUKUS, yet the submarines keep changing, the costs keep rising, and there’s no scrutiny. Is this a defence strategy or Australia’s worst defence deal ever?
There’s a lot of truth in the argument that governments present policies as being in the national interest when powerful corporate, financial and geopolitical interests are actually the ones determining the outcome. That’s what neoliberalism is all about - privatisation, deregulation and free trade were sold as benefiting everyone, while many of the gains flowed to corporations and the big investors.
Where we’d probably differ is that we’re not convinced Australia is just a passive vassal state with no agency, but finding those leaders don’t behave like that is the problem. Where are they? Australian governments can still make choices, but those choices are constrained by economics, commitments to the US alliance and political thinking that’s been deeply embedded over the past 40 years or so – Thatcher’s “there is no other way” philosophy, and everyone becomes a slave to the machine.
As you point out, AUKUS is a massive transfer of Australian wealth into the US and UK defence industries but what’s the benefit for Australia? That’s the question we’re asking. Hopefully the Garret review will find the big answers.
love your work guys, but i think the problem with this discussion is the idea that Australia is a sovereign nation looking after its own interests. I've really struggled to understand a lot of our govt policies over the decades. Neoliberalism was always a con, but thanks to Trump and the rise of independent media, the way the west works has become more transparent. I now believe that Labor, like the US Democrats, are the party for the corporations. they talk like they are about us, but their actions say otherwise.
AUKUS was always just a transfer of wealth, from a vassal state to the US because they are running out of money. Their stupid wars have increased to move away from the petro dollar making it even worse.
What manufacturing industry does America dominate besides military?
Thanks Daryl. The US does dominate in military but its main manufacturing is also things like aerospace, building ships, satellites etc. mostly things individuals don’t buy.
Brilliantly well said . 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The recent image online of Marles laughing and joking with Hegsbreath was a perfect picture of both wastes of space . How is it possible for Albanese and this government to be so dumb as to continue with this AUKUS mirage . ( “Come in suckers !” is a massive understatement. ) So humiliating 🙄.
It is very dangerous that the true believers, the Triumvirate of Marles, Albanese and Wong, are enthralled by the glitz of Mar-a-Lago and the White House. Their great friends in Rubio, Hegseth and Trump, and endorsement of illegal warfare, must never be forgotten.
Marles is probably the biggest stooge for America that we have. Even worse than some of the right wing Liberals. Look at how he lamely attempts to convince us that second hand submarines was always the plan. Humiliation of our country.
The truth of AUKUS, a jobs programme to militarise the national economy to boost GDP with inflated military procurement, is austerity in disguise. Look at what happened to the NDIS and other social programs in the budget. Technical schools are being started in South Australia to give teens a pathway into military contractors, to make more death and destruction.
What's also interesting, as the integration of US and Australian defence is being discussed, the same is being proposed between the US and Israel... It seems that as Israel realises they're losing their grip on the US population, they are looking to integrate their defence with the US so they can't lose US funding in the future... (Saw this discussed on Breaking Points I think)...
In any case Australia just look like complete dumbf*cks oblivious to shifting political and global alliances or worse, (tin foil hat time) maybe Australia isn't sovereign at all...
There’s a lot of truth in the argument that governments present policies as being in the national interest when powerful corporate, financial and geopolitical interests are actually the ones determining the outcome. That’s what neoliberalism is all about - privatisation, deregulation and free trade were sold as benefiting everyone, while many of the gains flowed to corporations and the big investors.
Where we’d probably differ is that we’re not convinced Australia is just a passive vassal state with no agency, but finding those leaders don’t behave like that is the problem. Where are they? Australian governments can still make choices, but those choices are constrained by economics, commitments to the US alliance and political thinking that’s been deeply embedded over the past 40 years or so – Thatcher’s “there is no other way” philosophy, and everyone becomes a slave to the machine.
As you point out, AUKUS is a massive transfer of Australian wealth into the US and UK defence industries but what’s the benefit for Australia? That’s the question we’re asking. Hopefully the Garret review will find the big answers.
love your work guys, but i think the problem with this discussion is the idea that Australia is a sovereign nation looking after its own interests. I've really struggled to understand a lot of our govt policies over the decades. Neoliberalism was always a con, but thanks to Trump and the rise of independent media, the way the west works has become more transparent. I now believe that Labor, like the US Democrats, are the party for the corporations. they talk like they are about us, but their actions say otherwise.
AUKUS was always just a transfer of wealth, from a vassal state to the US because they are running out of money. Their stupid wars have increased to move away from the petro dollar making it even worse.
What manufacturing industry does America dominate besides military?
Thanks Daryl. The US does dominate in military but its main manufacturing is also things like aerospace, building ships, satellites etc. mostly things individuals don’t buy.
Your point about sovereignty is well said.
Thanks David. I do agree, but also think they benefited immensely from the spending and profits from the military contracts 🤷♂️
Oh no doubt at all.
Brilliantly well said . 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The recent image online of Marles laughing and joking with Hegsbreath was a perfect picture of both wastes of space . How is it possible for Albanese and this government to be so dumb as to continue with this AUKUS mirage . ( “Come in suckers !” is a massive understatement. ) So humiliating 🙄.
Thanks Eddy and David.
It is very dangerous that the true believers, the Triumvirate of Marles, Albanese and Wong, are enthralled by the glitz of Mar-a-Lago and the White House. Their great friends in Rubio, Hegseth and Trump, and endorsement of illegal warfare, must never be forgotten.
Marles is probably the biggest stooge for America that we have. Even worse than some of the right wing Liberals. Look at how he lamely attempts to convince us that second hand submarines was always the plan. Humiliation of our country.
The truth of AUKUS, a jobs programme to militarise the national economy to boost GDP with inflated military procurement, is austerity in disguise. Look at what happened to the NDIS and other social programs in the budget. Technical schools are being started in South Australia to give teens a pathway into military contractors, to make more death and destruction.
Yes!! Thank you Eddy and David.
What's also interesting, as the integration of US and Australian defence is being discussed, the same is being proposed between the US and Israel... It seems that as Israel realises they're losing their grip on the US population, they are looking to integrate their defence with the US so they can't lose US funding in the future... (Saw this discussed on Breaking Points I think)...
In any case Australia just look like complete dumbf*cks oblivious to shifting political and global alliances or worse, (tin foil hat time) maybe Australia isn't sovereign at all...