Paul Keating says US Aukus review could ‘save Australia from itself’ as sceptics hail chance to exit pact
Former PM Malcolm Turnbull and former foreign minister Bob Carr say Australia must seize chance to urgently review its defence needs
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A chorus of Aukus sceptics, including former prime ministers Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull, say a US review represents an opportunity" for Australia to escape a controversial deal that would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and leave Australia ultimately less able to defend itself.
But Scott Morrison - who as prime minister helped engineer the Aukus deal in 2021 - said Australia should not overinterpret" the significance of the review as he expressed confidence in Donald Trump's support for the pact.
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