What we learned today, Thursday 12 June
This is where we’ll wrap the blog up for the day. Let’s recap the day’s main events:
The defence minister, Richard Marles welcomed the US review into Aukus, calling it “perfectly natural”.
Shadow defence minister Angus Taylor said “If Aukus falls over, we will all pay a heavy price”.
Former prime minister Paul Keating says the Aukus review by the US “might very well be the moment Washington saves Australia from itself.”
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has said Australia is “delusional” if it thinks there is a better defence alliance option than the US.
Former foreign minister Bob Carr says Australia and the US should agree to “slide out” of the Aukus submarine deal.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission found there was “no corruption issue” regarding the $2.4m settlement paid to Brittany Higgins following her alleged rape within Parliament House. Linda Reynolds says she is “bitterly disappointed” by the outcome.
The Monash IVF chief executive, Michael Knaap, has resigned in the wake of the reproductive healthcare company’s second embryo transplant bungle.
Griffith University underpaid more than 5,000 staff to the tune of $8.34m including super and interest.
Australians are saving and making extra mortgage repayments at higher rates, instead of boosting their spending.
Adelaide’s first skyscraper – which critics have described as a “phallic” mistake – has been approved.
Updated
Secret examination of agency running Aukus submarine program handed to government
A top secret examination of the agency in charge of the $368bn Aukus nuclear submarine program has been handed to the government, as the new US review fuels fresh doubt about the security pact.
Guardian Australia has confirmed former top public servant Dennis Richardson has presented the findings of a rapid assessment of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) to the defence minister, Richard Marles.
Marles late last year tapped Richardson to examine the agency amid concerns about the running of the newly formed organisation.
Weeks of murmurings about staff unhappiness and disillusionment culminated in the abrupt resignation of one of the agency’s most senior leaders, Guardian Australia reported at the time.
The probe was not a formal review with Richardson only asked to provide advice to Marles.
The advice, which was not prepared in the form of a final report with recommendations, will not be publicly released.
In a statement to Guardian Australia, a spokesperson for Marles said:
The Deputy Prime Minister asked Mr Richardson last year to have a look at the work of the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise and make sure we have the right settings in place to succeed in the task of acquiring conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr Richardson has provided his advice to the Deputy Prime Minister, which will inform the government’s priorities and directions to support Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.”
Updated
