Live: Australia pushing for treaty with Solomon Islands to counter China

live Federal politics live: Australia pushing for treaty with Solomon Islands to counter China Australia is pushing for a new treaty with Solomon Islands as the Pacific nation's new prime minister, Matthew Wale, visits Canberra. Follow all the updates in our live blog. Submit a comment or question Live updates New: Filters Choose what information you see below by using filters Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 7:05am Defence estimates argues over 'constrained optimal pathways' and damage to the English language Last night's Defence estimates was the first outing for the new Defence secretary Meghan Quinn — and she landed right in the middle of a fairly messy AUKUS news cycle. Quinn received a grilling over the AUKUS shift from buying two used and one new Virginia-class submarines from the US in the 2030's, to three used submarines. Both Quinn and Defence Minister Richard Marles have said the new arrangement isn't just better for Australia, given all the simplicity of operating identical submarines, but it's what the government has wanted all along. Greens senator David Shoebridge wanted to drill down on the language - in particular, how the former plan was until now described as the 'optimal pathway' if the government didn't actually see it as the best option. "If the optimal pathway in March 2024 was two second-hand ones and one new one, how do we understand your evidence now that Australia's position is that we would have always had a preference for three (second-hand submarines)?" he asked. "You can't have two optimal pathways?" "You can absolutely have two constrained optimal pathways," Quinn replied. "Constrained optimisation is absolutely core to policy-making." Quinn argued there is no perfect path — that every option came with costs and benefits, and there can be multiple 'optimal pathways'. But Shoebridge said the notion of multiple optimal paths was stretching the bounds of language. "AUKUS is not only doing damage to the Australian public purse, it is destroying the English language," he said. Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 7:00am Marles says Australia wanted three second-hand subs all along Defence minister Richard Marles insists the new AUKUS deal that will see Australia buy three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US isn't just a better outcome, it's what the government wanted all along. Marles returned yesterday from his trip to Singapore over the weekend, where he met US War Secretary Pete Hegseth and announced the change to the AUKUS pact. Australia was going to buy two second-hand submarines in 2032 and 2035, with about 20 years of life remaining in them, and one brand new one in 2038. Speaking to a 'Defending Australia' summit in Canberra last night, he argued that was at the insistence of the US. He said Australia has always wanted three second-hand submarines because of the simplicity of operating three identical submarines, but until now the US was only offering a third new submarine — which would have significant differences to the others. "Our preference actually from the outset would have been to have 'in service' submarines, because what it would mean was that we were operating a consistent class of submarines which would provide consistency for our submariners and for those maintaining the submarines," he said. "It's not what was then available in terms of the sustainment and production schedule that America had to offer." It's the same argument the new Defence secretary, Meghan Quinn, put to Senate estimates last night — drawing an incredulous response from Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson. Key Event Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 6:53am Australia wants to sign a new treaty with Solomon Islands Australia is pushing for a new treaty with Solomon Islands as the Pacific nation's new Prime Minister Matthew Wale visits Canberra. Wale will hold talks with Anthony Albanese and top foreign affairs officials in Canberra as he kicks off his first overseas trip since seizing the top job last month. The visit will come against the backdrop of a sometimes-fierce strategic contest between China and Australia in the Solomon Islands, which signed a controversial security agreement with Beijing in 2022. It's still the only formal security pact that China has managed to land across the Pacific. But Australia spots a golden opportunity to push back under Mr Wale. The new prime minister sharply criticised China from opposition when the security pact was signed, although he's since softened his position. The federal government has already publicly signalled it wants to negotiate a comprehensive treaty with Solomon Islands and clearly hopes Wale will agree to kickstart that process during this visit. It's not yet clear whether Wale is willing to take Australia up on that offer, but he and his senior ministers have already been in detailed discussions with Australian officials — both last week in Honiara and yesterday in Canberra. That suggests that the idea — at the very least — is being very seriously considered. Wed 3 Jun 2026 at 6:44am Good morning 👋 Hi friends. Welcome to our daily federal politics live blog. I'm Courtney Gould from the ABC's Parliament House team, here and ready to guide you through the day. Well, isn't it all happening this morning. Last night, Defence Minister Richard Marles did his best to clarify what is actually going on with the whole second-hand AUKUS submarines saga. Elsewhere, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will be everywhere this morning ahead of a meeting with Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale. Grab a coffee and settle in. I have a feeling it could be a busy one. Loading