Politics unit 4 - AOS 2 - Australia

Quote on security of Missile interceptor

Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister - “growing our sovereignty and helping to keep Australian’s safe”

When was the Missile Defence Test?

9th of July, 2026

Economic statistic for missile defence

ADF expecting to spend between $7 and $10 Billion over the next 10 years on missile defence

AUKUS introduction

2021 - 8 SSN, 5 domestically, 3 US

AUKUS delivery date

2030s for US and 2040 for domestic

economic power in AUKUS

projected cost is $368B over 30 years, Fed gov announced $4.6B funding for AUKUS shipyards in Adelaide

Trade and AUKUS

2 $800 mil AUD defence payments to US so far, most recent in July 2025

Pro - AUKUS ev

Anthony Albanese, March 2023 - “AUKUS is the biggest single leap in defence capability in our history”, “It’s about building a future made in Australia, with record investments in […] skills, jobs and infrastructure.”

Anti - AUKUS

Paul Keating, 2023 - called labours decision the “worst international decision” in over a century, and is “the last shackle in the long chain the US has laid out to contain China”

US and AUKUS

Trump admin initiated “pentagon-led review of the AUKUS pact”, to ensure it aligned with Trump’s “America First” stance.

Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth reaffirmed support for AUKUS as a strategic partnership.

Trump, July 2025 - “we’re proceeding with AUKUS […] we’re very long-time partners and allies and friends.”

China and AUKUS

Feb, 2023 - AUKUS is fuelled by “Cold War thinking”, “fuelling military confrontation” and creating “additional nuclear proliferation risks”