My last major attempt as a Labor senator to challenge the rules set by those in charge of the party’s fate came shortly before Scott Morrison’s fall from public grace. Late on Wednesday 15 September 2021, media reports began to emerge about Morrison’s decision to cancel a deal with France to build 12 conventionally powered submarines in Australia to replace our navy’s aging Collins-class submarine fleet. Instead, Australia will opt for nuclear-powered submarines using British and American technology. tripartite agreement known as AUKUS.

The government had given a two-hour oral briefing to Anthony Albanese, his deputy Richard Marles and Penny Wong and Brendan O’Connor as shadow ministers of foreign affairs and defence.

Loading…