Kym Davey:It's one thing to build up our defences. It's another to be part of an aggressive posture.

Kym Davey, Former ALP State Executive member and Labor Against War, addressed the AUKUS Public Inquiry's Fremantle hearing, tracing what he argues is the true origin of AUKUS, the absence of internal Labor support for the deal, and what he sees as a media narrative built almost entirely on fear of China. Davey pointed to a 2021 meeting in Carbis Bay, Wales, as the real starting point: "Boris Johnson called Scott Morrison and, according to Boris Johnson, convinced him not to buy French submarines. He was interested in a pact. Scott Morrison was interested in a pact." He drew a sharp contrast with Canada's recent submarine procurement process, which included public debates and open sessions with bidders, arguing Australia "has been through no such thing." As a Labor Party member himself, Davey was direct about internal sentiment: "I don't know anyone within the Labor Party who supports AUKUS," noting more than 110 local branches have moved resolutions against the deal, while internal caucus discipline discourages MPs from speaking out. Davey also challenged the media's framing of China, arguing coverage is overwhelmingly focused on threat with little balancing context, including US missile testing that receives far less scrutiny than Chinese tests. He closed by pointing to what he sees as a contradiction at the heart of government messaging: Australia claims to want both a "permanent state of contest" with China and a "strategic equilibrium" in the region, positions he argues can't coexist. This hearing is a public record. All views, for and against, are presented as evidence for the Inquiry to weigh. Have your say here: aukuspublicinquiry.com Support the Inquiry: This is an independent, community-funded inquiry. Help us continue this vital work: https://chuffed.org/project/173009-pu... We will be visiting other locations around Australia in the coming months. Visit our page here to register: https://events.humanitix.com/host/pub... — All are welcome to attend and observe. Nominate your interest in presenting to Commissioners at checkout. Space and time to do so is subject to availability on the day.