8. Conclusion
   1. The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties was established by the Commonwealth Parliament to inquire into any treaty to which Australia has become signatory. It is the role of the Committee to consider both the treaty and matters arising from it in order to ensure that ratification is in the national interest.
   2. As part of its inquiry into the Agreement among the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation Related to Naval Nuclear Propulsion (the Agreement), the Committee considered a range of matters brought to it throughout the inquiry process.
   3. Throughout the inquiry the Committee heard evidence that, unlike diesel submarines, nuclear-powered submarines have the ability to operate at high speeds for extended periods of time without the need to surface. This ability, in addition to superior manoeuvrability and stealth, provides Australia with a clear advantage in a time when Australia is facing the most complex and challenging strategic environment since the Second World War.
   4. While supporting Australia’s ratification of the treaty, the Committee makes eight recommendations that seek to ensure that the Australian people are continuously engaged and informed throughout the implementation of the Agreement and the resulting AUKUS program.
   5. Key among the matters these recommendations address is the need to support local communities who will be impacted by the significant increase in population brought about by the influx of workers and their families to the locations where the submarines will be built and maintained. This support should take the form of education, consultation and funding provided by the Federal Government and implemented in partnership with relevant State and Local governments.
   6. The issue of nuclear waste disposal needs to be addressed in a timely and transparent manner. While the Committee acknowledges that the disposal of the nuclear fuel used to power the submarines will not be required until the 2050s or later, the decision of where to store the small amounts of low-level waste created during routine maintenance of the nuclear-powered submarines needs to be a priority. As part of this process, the community needs to better engaged and educated in the risks posed through the storage of the waste, and the advice provided by the newly-established Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator should be made available to the general public to maintain transparency.
   7. The Committee acknowledges that this treaty intersects with a range of other international agreements to which Australia is a party, or may be party to in the future. Additionally, the Committee recognises that a number of additional instruments may arise from the ratification of the Agreement and strongly believes that they should receive appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.
   8. Finally, the Committee was pleased to hear that the implementation of the Agreement brings with it a significant opportunity by way of generating thousands of jobs and forms the catalyst for increased focus on STEM subjects at schools and in tertiary education. The resulting upskilled workforce will benefit Australia not only throughout the life of the Agreement but well into the future.
   9. In conclusion, the Committee believes that while the nuclear-powered submarines themselves provide Australia with a strategic advantage, the resulting upskilling of the Australian workforce, increased employment opportunities and supply chain opportunities brought about by the Agreement are of great benefit to Australia and thus the Committee recommends that binding treaty action be taken.

Ms Lisa Chesters MP

Chair

25 November 2024