A crowd-funded independent inquiry into Australia's landmark AUKUS submarine
deal will be led by the country's former environment minister Peter Garrett.

The review will examine the $263-billion US dollar agreement, Australia's
biggest ever defense project, through public hearings, with a report due in
October.

The inquiry will look at whether the nuclear-powered attack submarines will
make Australia safer, where nuclear waste will be stored, whether Australia
will actually receive the vessels it is paying for, and how the deal affects
the country's sovereignty and its relationship with China — its largest
trading partner.

Earlier this week, Australia announced changes to the agreement, with the
country now set to buy three second-hand U-S submarines instead of receiving
at least one new vessel under the original terms.

From 2027, the U-S and U-K will also be allowed to base a small number of
nuclear submarines in Perth.