Australian news and politics recap: Albo meeting with Trump at G7 critical after US AUKUS review announcement

Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor has voiced concerns over Australia’s defence readiness, highlighting shortfalls in recruitment and capability targets under the current government.

He warns that the potential collapse of the AUKUS agreement could have significant repercussions for national security.

Mr Taylor criticises the government’s failure to deliver on sovereign missile capabilities and ADF recruitment goals.

“We need more than a paper ADF,” he states, emphasising that bipartisanship should not serve as a shield for inaction.

Reaffirming the Coalition’s commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, Mr Taylor argues that increased funding is essential to support AUKUS and prevent it from diverting resources from other critical defence areas.

Former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey has said there was now weight on Anthony Albanese’s shoulders to secure a meeting with US President Trump during his upcoming trip to North America for the G7.

“We have no alternative to engage at a detailed level, and that needs to happen between Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump directly,” Mr Hockey said.

“If Donald Trump’s out there saying Australia is a great country and a great ally and a great friend, then way down the pipeline in the Department of Defence, no one would be initiating an unsolicited review into AUKUS,” he said.

Mr Hockey also suggested the PM should be “armed up with all the ammunition” in other areas of US interest ahead of any Trump meeting, such as compensation on tariffs, suggesting Australia could budge on beef exports.

Former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey has said he has “no doubt” that US President Donald Trump supports AUKUS.

Speaking on Sky News on Thursday after news broke the US would be reviewing the agreement, Mr Hockey said Trump was a “transitional” and likely wanted to sniff out if it’s in America’s best interest.

“He is transactional. He wants to be able to say he got a good deal, but he doesn’t want to say that it’s America only. He wants to be a good partner,” he said.

“I know Donald Trump supports AUKUS, and there’s no doubt about Congress and the Senate.

“I was there just a few weeks ago, met with a number of key Senators, Democrats and Republicans… and they’re emphatically supporting AUKUS.”

Scott Morrison has called for people not to “over-interpret” the United States’ review of AUKUS.

Former Liberal Prime Minister backed the security deal but said America was “within its remit” to examine the multibillion-dollar pact.

“The current US Department of Defence review of AUKUS is well within its remit and not unlike the strategic assessment recently conducted by the new UK Government,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“This is a departmental review, not a policy decision, and should not be over-interpreted.”

Mr Morrison added ahead of PM Anthony Albanese’s trip to the upcoming G7 in Canada next week that “now is the time for Australia to make the case again”.

“We have a good case to make in both our own interests and those of our AUKUS partners, especially in the US,” he said.

Murray Watt says talks between his department and gas giant Woodside over the provisional approval of the North West Shelf are “constructive” but flagged that their response could be delayed.

The new Environment Minister, on May 28, gave the greenlight for an expansion of the mass gas project to 2070 but only under strict conditions.

The conditions related to protections for Aboriginal rock art and air quality in the area.

“I would say that there have been constructive discussions underway between Woodside and my department since I handed down that proposed decision,” he said.

He said Woodside could respond to his conditions after the 10-day period, which is due to end tomorrow but warned it could take longer.

“That 10-day period expires this Friday, but I should say it’s not uncommon for proponents in this situation to take a bit longer in coming back on those comments,” he said.

Australia’s shadow defence minister has labelled the United States’ decision to review the AUKUS agreement as “deeply concerning”.

Angus Taylor said the Albanese Government has “very serious questions to answer” about its international relations performance in the wake of the news.

“If this review has been triggered by the Albanese Government’s refusal to commit to increased defence spending and its sanctioning of two Israeli ministers, then the government has very serious questions to answer about how it is managing our most critical allies,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Prime Minister must urgently seek a direct meeting with President Trump to safeguard the AUKUS agreement and ensure Australia’s national interests are protected.”

It comes as the nation’s man in Washington, Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, is in Australia today.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said it’s important to “stick to the plan” and deliver it when asked if there is a Plan B to AUKUS.

“Given that what we’re talking about is something which takes 20 years before you’re able to build it. These are the most complicated machines, the most complex machines that humanity have ever built,” he said.

“Chopping and changing guarantees, you will never have the capability. And you just need to look at the map to understand that Australia absolutely needs to have a submarine capability.”

Dismissing criticisms from former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, he said: “Unless you are willing to stick, you’ll never get the capability.”

“We are focused on delivering this, and we are working very closely with our partners in doing so. It is in the strategic interest of the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia,” he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he is “very confident” the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program is going to happen following reports the Pentagon has initiated a review into the $368 billion agreement.

“The review that’s been announced is not a surprise. We’ve been aware of this for some time. It’s welcome. It’s something which is perfectly natural for an incoming administration to do,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“The United Kingdom undertook their own review when the Labor government was elected there in the middle of last year. And that’s reported, and is, in fact, very positive about AUKUS in many ways,” he said.

“We did the same thing when we came to power back in 2022, when we undertook the defence strategic review, which, amongst many things, looked at AUKUS as well.”

He said there would be more reviews in what would be a multi-decade arrangement, “but in the meantime, the arrangement proceeds”.

Former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has suggested it is time for the Australian Government to “wake up” as both the UK and the US “review” the AUKUS deal.

“The UK is conducting a review of AUKUS,” he said on X.

“The US DoD is conducting a review of AUKUS.

“But Australia, which has the most at stake, has no review.

“Our Parliament to date has been the least curious and least informed. Time to wake up?”

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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles says it’s ‘natural’ that the Trump Adminstation would want to review the AUKUS agreement after the Pentagon launched an inquiery to ensure it met US President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.

“We are committed to AUKUS and we look forward to working closely with the US on the review. The United States advised Australia and the UK of the review.

“It is natural that the Administration would want to examine this major undertaking including progress and delivery, just as the UK Government recently concluded an AUKUS review and reaffirmed its support including through the appointment of Sir Stephen Lovegrove as its AUKUS Adviser.

“There is bipartisan support in the United States with the passage of important provisions in the National Defence Authorization Act in 2023 to enable the transfer of US Virginia class submarines to Australia, and to enable Australians to work on maintenance activities of US Virginia class submarines.”

“Our engagement with the Trump Administration and across the full political spectrum in the United States has shown clear and consistent support for AUKUS.

“We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the Trump Administration on this historic project.”

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