Wilkie accuses Labor and Coalition of drinking Aukus ‘Kool-Aid’ as crossbenchers rally for ‘transparent’ inquiry

The Australian Security and Peace Foundation has argued it was in neither the interests of the UK or Australia to be part of a US-led China containment strategy. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

Crossbenchers are calling for a “transparent” inquiry into Aukus, with one independent MP accusing both major parties of “drinking the Kool-Aid”, as the US prepares for its own review into the trilateral defence pact.

In a letter sent on Friday to the defence minister, Richard Marles, 10 crossbench MPs and senators called for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into the deal between Australia, the US and the UK. The deal is anticipated to cost Australia up to $368bn.