Ms SPENDER (Wentworth) (15:07): Australians are losing faith in AUKUS, if they ever had it. It is time for the government to be transparent on the risks to the delivery of AUKUS, how they are going to address them and how they're going to keep Australians safe. The government's first duty is to protect its people. Defence is one of the most important issues facing our country in this ever-changing world. The cornerstone of the Morrison government's, and now the Albanese government's, future defence strategy has been AUKUS.

I have real questions about whether the AUKUS nuclear submarine program is really, truly what Australia needs for its future, but, putting those concerns aside, having some submarines is better than having no submarines. But it seems that there is a significant danger that we will not have the submarines that we need, in terms of both the Virginia class submarines and the AUKUS class submarines, as well as capability gaps emerging in our Collins class submarines, which means that we may be significantly underprepared in this area. This is no way to run a defence force.

Let's look at the evidence. There are three key elements of the Australian submarine program: firstly, continuing the Collins class submarines over a period of time to bridge gaps; secondly, the purchasing of Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines before we get the AUKUS submarines; and, thirdly, the SSN-AUKUS submarines. Each of those three elements is currently experiencing significant problems.

Firstly, let's look at the Collins class submarines. The recent ANAO report was scathing about the current ability of the Collins class submarines extension-of-life program. There are real concerns about what we're going to get and our ability to deliver it and the costs of these.

Secondly, let's look at the Virginia class submarines. The USA is continuing to deliver submarines at around half the rate that is required for the President to be able to sign off that submarines given to Australia are not a reduction in the USA's own capabilities. The President has the ability not to fulfil the commitment to the Australian government, on the basis of that issue. But the USA is not producing submarines at the rate that means that the President can, in good faith, sign off on assigning Virginia class submarines to Australia.

Now—just over the weekend—the government has agreed with the US that we're not going to get one new Virginia class submarine; we're actually going to get three second-hand submarines. My question to the government is: if that was such a great idea and if that was such an important strategic pivot, why didn't you work this out three years ago? It's hard to believe that this is actually what Australia wants. It feels very much like we are being dictated terms by the US.

The US has undertaken the Colby review of the AUKUS arrangement. Apparently there are recommendations in the Colby review which do our alter our arrangements with the US. But we don't know, and the Australian parliament doesn't know, and certainly the Australian people don't know, what those recommendations are and how they affect AUKUS in this country.

Thirdly, let's move to the SSN-AUKUS boats. A recent UK parliamentary committee has warned that Britain risks being unable to meet its obligations under AUKUS because of the risk to the SSN-AUKUS boats.

The real question is on this. We have all the elements of the Australian submarine strategy at risk right now—all of them. We have had reassurances from the government, and from previous governments, that this is in Australia's interests and is setting us up for the future. All three elements are under significant strain right now.

It is time for the government to be honest about that—to be transparent about the risks and clear on how it is going to mitigate those risks. There are other options as to submarines. They are not that great that it is better to have them as submarines. But, given the real risks to the delivery timescales, as well as the delivery costs, of this program, it is up to the Australian government to be transparent and honest about this.

This is why you are seeing people like the former head of the Australian Defence Force, former Admiral Barrie, get behind a public inquiry into AUKUS, because there is so little faith amongst the public about AUKUS, on its original strategic intent but, absolutely, right now, on whether it can be delivered. It is up to the government to be transparent to the Australian people. There are problems there—we know that; we can read the news. It is time for the government to be honest about that and how it is going to keep Australians safe into the future.