In his latest essay for Overland, Gwenaël Velge, Research Associate with the Mineral Policy Institute at Murdoch University, draws the link between the AUKUS deal and a range of environmental impacts in Western Australia, including the illegal clearing of the Northern Jarrah forest, the spread of data centres across Perth’s eastern corridor, and the construction of a nuclear submarine base on Garden Island.

Gwenaël joins Dylan Bird to dive into how the controversial defence pact could be causing collateral damage to our environment and threatening the country’s water and energy security.

“Basically, what is happening is we are riding roughshod over regulation of any kind, or community accountability, or any kind of checks and balances because it comes as less important as providing the US Department of War with what is needs.”

Photo credit: supplied.