Media release – Jacqui Lambie Network, 8 April 2025
Lambie & Patrick AUS/US Senate Inquiry
Jacqui Lambie, Senator for Tasmania and her South Australian Senate candidate, Rex Patrick, today announced that if returned to the Senate, they will establish a wide-ranging Senate inquiry into Australia’s relations with the United States, including the ANZUS Treaty and the AUKUS nuclear submarine scheme.
“Australia is facing global economic disruption on a scale not seen since WW2, it’s essential the Australian parliament do a top to bottom review of Australia’s relationship with the United States,” Senator Lambie said.
“For too long debate on Australia foreign and defence policy has been constrained by bureaucratic orthodoxy and the bipartisan straitjacket imposed by Labor and the Liberal National Coalition. However the international scene is now changing rapidly and radically in ways that destroy past assumptions, especially the notion that Australia can enjoy defence on the cheap while relying on the USA for protection. Those days are gone.” said former Senator Rex Patrick.
“President Trump’s tariff attack, in open violation of the Australia/ US Free Trade Agreement, calls into question the value of the ANZUS alliance, the cornerstone of Australian defence policy for more than 70 years. The AUKUS project, acknowledged by the Defence Department to be “very high risk”, now looks like a huge mistake.” said Senator Lambie
“It isn’t often a great power self-immolates through rank stupidity, but that’s the grim spectacle we’re now witnessing. Australia must be much more independent and self-reliant to successfully navigate the geopolitical turbulence that lies ahead.” Rex Patrick said.
The establishment of a Senate Select Committee inquiry into Australia’s alliance with the United States including the ANZUS alliance and the AUKUS nuclear submarine scheme will be moved in the first sitting week of the 48th Parliament. This will ensure an open and honest debate about Australia’s foreign affairs, defence and trade policies starting with a focus on the United States.
The recent strategic policy experts forum convened by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was a valuable beginning, but we must carry this debate forward through the next Parliament.
The terms of reference will be broad and representation on the Select Committee should span political opinion across the Senate.
“We need to ask the hard questions about how to manage relations with a great power that’s unpredictable, aggressively protectionist in trade policy, and self-interested in security relationships. The US is putting America first – it’s time we put Australia first!” Senator Lambie said.
“Whoever forms government after the election would unquestionably benefit from a forum where past orthodoxies can be reconsidered and challenged and future policy directions freely explored. At the same time parliamentary scrutiny of key aspects of defence and national security policy, especially the $368 billion AUKUS program, will be more important than ever,”
“The world is changing beneath our feet and we have to face up to the new realities; not as some of our political leaders would have it, stick our heads in the sand and hope not to be noticed,” said Mr Patrick.
