Coker rejects criticism of AUKUS stance

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker has affirmed her support for the new AUKUS deal following criticism from Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson.

More details about the joint defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States were revealed earlier this month.

This includes a plan for Australia to acquire and operate as many as eight nuclear-powered submarines, including at least three and as many as five Virginia-class submarines from the United States.

The cost is estimated to be up to $368 billion over the next 30 years.

Ms Coker was reportedly one of two Labor MPs to raise questions about AUKUS in a caucus meeting on Tuesday last week, with a third voicing his concerns on the floor of Parliament.

Senator Henderson seized on this during a speech in Parliament the same day, saying “the question needs to be raised as to whether these concerns were well intentioned” and describing Ms Coker as “a hardline campaigner against new investment in coal and gas” .

“Now, we see the Member for Corangamite and some of her colleagues doing their best to cause division over AUKUS,” Senator Henderson said.

“AUKUS is too important to fail.”

In an email to supporters sent later, Senator Henderson said Ms Coker should “confirm her unconditional support for the AUKUS agreement including Australia’s nuclear submarine program”.

In response to questions from this newspaper, Ms Coker did not specify the concern she raised in caucus nor the answer she received, but said she was in favour of the deal.

“The AUKUS plan is important for our security, it responds to the challenging times we face, and it will create thousands of jobs for Australian workers.

“AUKUS has my support.”