The Albanese Government is forking out billions for nuclear-powered AUKUS submarines
The Albanese Government is forking out billions for nuclear-powered AUKUS submarines | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news The Albanese Government is forking out billions for nuclear-powered AUKUS submarines 2025-03-26 The Albanese Government has cranked up funding for AUKUS to $18 billion over five years, largely as a tribute payment to President Trump.
This represents an additional $6 billion compared to last year’s budget for nuclear-powered submarines. This AUKUS cost will keep growing year by year, with a total project cost now hitting $375 billion. This is funding that will not be going towards the things the public needs, like dental and mental health into Medicare, public housing or funding public education.
This budget also sees the Albanese Government paying $1.6 billion to make a nuclear submarine base for the US off the coast of Perth at HMAS Stirling. Labor has also budgeted to pay $445.4 million as a payment to “sustain” nuclear submarines over the next five years, which are submarines we don't have. This funding will likely instead sustain US nuclear submarines, having Australian taxpayers subsidise Donald Trump’s military.
There will also be $28 million to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for “international policy advice and diplomatic support for the nuclear-powered submarine program.” Effectively, funding to send diplomats to beg Donald Trump to give us nuclear submarines. Largely due to AUKUS, the total Defence budget is now almost $59 billion a year and now makes up 6.6% of all Government expenditure.
David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Defence, said: “On the same day that Donald Trump and his mates shared secret war plans with a journalist on Signal, the Albanese government decided to double down on AUKUS, adding an extra $6 billion to the forward estimates. “Why on earth, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, as the climate crisis gets worse, is the Albanese Government choosing to dump billions more into nuclear submarines we will never get?
“It is all part of this dangerous escalation in the region. Australia is rapidly militarising and becoming an arm of the US military. This isn't keeping anyone safe.
“This budget has the Albanese Government paying $445.4 million over the forward estimates to 'sustain' US nuclear-powered submarines, and another $1.6 billion to build the US a nuclear submarine base off Perth. This only makes us less safe. “Millions of Australians can see that AUKUS is sinking, but Labor and the Coalition keep pouring Australia's treasure into it in the doomed hope it will make Donald Trump play nice.“ Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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