Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres says the resignation of former UK Defence Secretary John Healey will have “no effect” on the Aukus defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Speaking on RN Breakfast, Ayres dismissed concerns that Healey’s departure from the British government could undermine the long-term submarine and defence agreement.
“This is a partnership that has deep support across all three countries’ political systems, within the public service and the defence agencies in all three countries, and indeed with the defence industry, because it’s in the interests of all three countries,” Ayres said.
His comments came after Healey’s surprise resignation from the UK government, a move that has generated political attention in Britain and raised questions about the future leadership of key defence portfolios.
Ayres argued that Aukus was designed to endure political and personnel changes across participating governments.
“Over the life of this agreement … there will be many ministers for defence for all three countries, many secretaries for war in the United States case, who are there charged with delivering this program,” he said.
The minister said the strength of the agreement rests on broad institutional backing rather than any individual officeholder.
His remarks reinforce the Australian government’s position that Aukus continues to enjoy support across government agencies, defence organisations and industry partners in all three member nations.