Albanese makes the case for AUKUS amid tense debate

The AUKUS debate has kicked off at Labor’s national conference in Brisbane this morning, with Defence Minister Richard Marles opening the discussion.

After a negotiated settlement between faction heavyweights, a 32-paragraph statement is going to be added to Labor’s policy platform.

The statement supports the decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through AUKUS without breaching Labor’s commitments or policy positions on broader nuclear issues, while also promising to create “well-paid, unionised jobs”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles is staring down concerns about the AUKUS pact at the Labor Party national conference. Alex Ellinghausen

As Marles spoke, there were some interjections from delegates on the conference floor, including calls about the need for Australia to protect its own independence from countries such as the United States.

“In a difficult moment, Australians are looking to us,” Marles said.

“I know that the word nuclear evokes a strong reaction, but we are not talking about nuclear weapons. Indeed, under this arrangement, Australia will remain and fulfil all our obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and we will be working with the International Energy Atomic Agency to do that, and we will meet our obligations under the Treaty of Rarotonga because we will never base nuclear weapons on our shores.

“But we are talking about nuclear propulsion. And without us, we will not have in 2040 the same submarine capability that Paul Keating gave us.

“If we take submarines off the table, we will never have left our country more exposed and that will undermine the whole idea of Australian self-reliance, which is at the heart of our platform.”

Marles received a standing ovation, including from right-wing union delegates from the Transport Workers Union.