Peter Garrett

Peter Garrett, who previously served as Australia's environment minister from 2007 to 2010, is now heading an independent, crowd-funded inquiry into the Aukus submarine deal. This multi-billion-dollar defense project, Australia's largest ever, involves the acquisition of second-hand US submarines to replace the nation's aging fleet. Garrett contends that a parliamentary inquiry into the A$368bn deal was long overdue and advocates for greater transparency. His current involvement highlights a public and political push for a more thorough examination of the significant defense expenditure and its implications. The initiative underscores a desire for independent scrutiny of major government projects, particularly those with substantial financial and strategic consequences.