Former ministers Joel Fitzgibbon and Arthur Sinodinos have embarked on an adventure together, co-chairing a business organisation aimed at taking advantage of the AUKUS defence pact.
The two are criss-crossing the country at events to promote the organisation, AUKUS Forum, and have events entitled “Unleashing the regional power of AUKUS” planned in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania, and in Bathurst and Broken Hill in NSW.
There is a strict media ban at all events — “no media, no cameras, no mobile phone filming”, invitations say — but neither former politician has been shy about plugging the forum on their social media channels.
“A great outcome that wilk [sic] drive Australian industry development and skills formation by creating a more seamless approach to tech transfer and information sharing with our close allies and partners, this is a moonshot for Australia, failure is not an option,” wrote Sinodinos in a recent LinkedIn post about an AUKUS announcement.
Sinodinos’ glittering CV includes roles most recently as Australia’s former ambassador to the US, former Liberal industry minister under PM Malcolm Turnbull and assistant treasurer under Tony Abbott, and before that prime minister John Howard’s chief of staff.
Fitzgibbon, a Labor defence and agriculture minister under Kevin Rudd, has said in one LinkedIn post that the AUKUS Forum is aimed at “maximising Australian industry participation in the AUKUS pact”.
The coalmining enthusiast and longstanding former member for Hunter has recently questioned whether Australia should embrace nuclear power, joining the “good people” of the World Nuclear Association at last year’s COP28 climate conference to call for a “sensible conversation” about allowing nuclear plants, as he put it in a LinkedIn post.
Fitzgibbon and Sinodinos were announced as the co-chairs of the forum in August. As Crikey reported last week, investors and businesses in all three AUKUS countries have been organising networks to take advantage of money-making and innovation opportunities enabled by the defence pact.
While pillar one of the pact — the transfer of nuclear-driven submarines to Australia — has received the most attention in Australian media, it’s the second pillar that’s most interesting to private investors. Pillar two enables information and technology sharing between the US, Australia and the UK, including by tearing down trade barriers.
The AUKUS partners hope to advance eight priority research areas through pillar two: undersea capabilities; quantum technologies; artificial intelligence; advanced cyber capabilities; hypersonic capabilities; electronic warfare; innovation and information sharing.
Sinodinos and Fitzgibbon have high-level connections through their former official positions. Sinodinos’ LinkedIn page features a picture of the then-ambassador alongside US President Joe Biden, and Fitzgibbon has posed for pictures with current Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.
Crikey tried to reach AUKUS Forum via phone and email, and sent a list of questions to it, but did not get a response before deadline.
Quite frankly this article sickens me. Not because I am questioning the veracity of any of its content; quite the opposite, it is the accuracy of Anton’s report that is the cause of my nausea.
Firstly, it underscores the cigarette paper thin differences (even that metaphor overstates any assumed dissimilarity), that exist between the Liberal and ‘Labor’ parties. Some readers might ask, “Why don’t they be honest with themselves and the voters and just form a coalition?” The answer to that is glaringly obvious. The (faux) ‘democratic’ form of government that we have here requires the appearance of at least two ‘opposing’ parties and the existence of these two entities provides that illusion.
Secondly, implicit in the article is an unspoken inference that we Australians are all going to be happy with the integration of this country into an even closer alliance with one of the most imperialist, war-mongering empires to have ever existed in the history of humanity because there are profits to be made by supporting and actually becoming part of the American military-industrial complex. Never mind the war crimes, mayhem and destruction that will result from the use of these weapons that are being developed.
Thirdly, it is a reminder of how readily money can be found to invest in the implements of mass murder, while serious money is never available for health, education or public housing.
Fourthly, the talent of the super, spin-doctor, snake-oil salesman Sinodinos,
“….. this is a moonshot for Australia, failure is not an option.”,
is readily on display here. This character could make a fortune in advertising.
Finally, as a person trained in the physical sciences, I find it sad, depressing even, that, not for the first time, advances in science, such as in quantum physics and electronics are being used for nefarious purposes.
What a depressing time to be alive. I do not say anything to my grandchildren but I fear for their future.
FitzGIBBON was a aggressive disloyal coal promoter who should not be allowed anywhere near govt work.
Unlikely to go near actual work.
Your emphasis is correct.
Truth and integrity are now in the order of the Planck Constant.
I didn’t even think that they were that large, Entropy.
Truth is a relative. Integrity? Sorry, I thought you said sales.
Article should read as “Sinodinos’ glittering CV includes” famously using the phrase “i don’t recall” 50 times when questioned by ICAC over his involvement regards Australia Water Holdings…..
Martin Parkinson once spoke highly of him long after his interview by ICAC. I really wonder is any public servant from 1996 onwards is trustworthy.
“Moonshot” is surely the definition of w@nkery.
NO NUKES! NO WAR! NO AUKUS! STOP THE BOATS!
I hope you’re talking about big grey boats with guns and stuff.
How’s Uncle Arfur’s memory theses daze?
After that cameo at that inquiry that dived into Australian Water Holdings, when he emerged with the memory of a goldfish, I could never understand what sort of ‘use’ he could ever be to any honest party thereafter – let alone make “Ambassador”, let alone to the USofA? Shows how much whatever government, did that, thought of our ‘commitment’?
Just as with his party treasurer/AWB lobbyist role, Arfur needs a memory in the same way a hood ornament needs an understanding of engine maintenance. I forget the correct term for this role, but it is common for corporate hucksters setting up a new scam to hire a naive cleanskin who gives good old school tie to front a board to give the folly some cheap easy name recognition. The Liberal party has lots of these idiots lying around, there’s even a sort of favour exchange/pecking order for these gigs. Arfur is a typical lower-middle rank 3rd or 4th choice.
… Most expensive door-openers money can buy.
Like Sir Desmond Glazebrook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4seLMd_FRo
And Fitzgibbon. Is he taking his brother along with him, to let him use Joel’s tax-payer funded resources, to pursue his business interests this time?
Pass the junket Comrade ….
What’s the media going to catch off them, they haven’t already got?
I like that pic of Arfur – “This is me as the Invisible Man.”
No worries maaate!
He’s forgotten to to give his banking details and is not collecting any taxpayer monies.
Having Fitzgibbon and Sinodinos as spruikers for AUKUS is a good argument to scrap Scotty’s cynical political wedge. Marles along with other MP’s and Fitzgibbon and Sinodinos see a great career opportunity as lobbyists and consultants in this open ended gravy train.
Comment of the day
Sinodinos must be hoping nobody remembers his ICAC fiasco in 2014. After all, he probably doesn’t (unless he wasn’t being entirely honest in asserting such comprehensive amnesia — perish the thought). The eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.
Those in power, I suspect, are well-satisfied with Arfur’s memory and his performances in inquiries.
This is depressing in so many ways. For a start, Labor’s unquestioned acceptance of “that fellow down under’s” entirely flawed AUKUS deal that ties us ever closer to an increasingly wacky US and a craven UK. Yet again we submit to being a lackey of the US. If it says WAR, we say WHERE? Can we not for once go our own way and focus on our region, acting as an independent nation? Too late now. The very secrecy of this unholy junket tells you everything you need to know about this unprincipled agreement that will advantage nobody but the US (and of course all the slavering arms salesmen mates).
One good thing (probably the only good thing) to happen if Trump gets to be President is that he’ll probably cancel the whole deal.
Depends what mood he’s in.
Hey but AUKUS lets us be lackeys to both the US and UK, now that’s a conservatives wet dream. Of course we could see it as us playing them to provide us with cheap defence. But I think the point of AUKUS is about getting us to pay more with no further “guarantees” than the existing hopes and prayers.
And taking all that old military grade nuclear waste laying about in the US and UK, and finding somewhere to put it. And paying them billions to take it!