View & Discuss: Gareth Evans: AUKUS 'Misconceived from the Onset."

AUKUS has been sold as a strategic masterstroke, a technological leap, and a necessary hedge against an uncertain region. But former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans—one of Australia’s most experienced voices in diplomacy, nuclear policy, and regional security—argues the opposite: that AUKUS was “misconceived from the onset.”
This Sydney Open Forum session invites you to watch and unpack Evans’ critique together, exploring what his argument means for Australia’s sovereignty, diplomacy, and long‑term security posture.

🌏 What we’ll explore

Evans’ analysis raises sharp questions that cut across party lines and strategic orthodoxies:

• Does AUKUS actually enhance Australia’s security—or entangle us in great‑power rivalry?
• What are the diplomatic costs for Australia’s relationships in Southeast Asia and the Pacific?
• Is nuclear‑powered submarine capability worth the financial, technological, and strategic risks?
• What alternatives exist for a defence posture that is independent, credible, and regionally constructive?

Whether you agree with Evans or not, his critique is a rare example of clear, historically grounded strategic thinking in a debate often dominated by slogans.

🎬 Format

1. Short viewing of Gareth Evans’ address/interview on AUKUS
2. Open, facilitated discussion in classic Sydney Open Forum style
3. Audience reflections on Australia’s strategic future, regional diplomacy, and democratic accountability

This is a space for curiosity, disagreement, and thoughtful civic conversation—not for echo chambers.

👥 Who’s it for

People interested in foreign policy, defence, and Australia’s place in the region Citizens concerned about transparency and democratic oversight in major national decisions
Students, researchers, and practitioners in international relations Anyone who wants to understand AUKUS beyond the headlines

📍 **Sydn