Australia will set a pioneering precedent in guarding against atomic weapons build-up for other nations that might seek nuclear-powered submarines, vows Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. In an interview with The Advertiser, Senator Wong revealed her department was working “very closely” with the International Atomic Energy Agency to maintain theContinue Reading
Malcolm Turnbull has joined the chorus of former prime ministers criticising the government’s $368bn AUKUS deal, saying there are more risks than there are rewards. A day after Paul Keating’s extraordinary spray in which he labelled the deal the “worst in all history”, Mr Turnbull was more measured in hisContinue Reading
Beijing’s top envoy to Canberra has savaged the AUKUS security agreement and claimed it “isn’t a good idea” for Australia. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian told reporters in Canberra the alliance between Australia, the UK and the US involved the unnecessary “targeting” of China as a potential threat. Mr Xiao gaveContinue Reading