Australian ex-minister launches crowd-funded inquiry into Aukus submarine deal

A former environment minister will head up a crowd-funded review of the multi-billion-dollar Aukus submarine deal, Australia's biggest ever defence project.

Peter Garrett, who served as environment minister between 2007 and 2010, said an independent inquiry into the A$368bn ($239bn; £176bn) deal - where Australia will buy second-hand US submarines to replace its ageing fleet - was "long overdue".

Garrett, the frontman of rock band Midnight Oil, said Aukus was the "most expensive" defence deal ever in Australia but the chance to "question, debate and decide has been taken out of the hands of the parliament and the people".

The review will hold public hearings with a report due in October.

Garrett will lead the inquiry with four other commissioners including Admiral Chris Barrie, the former chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Carmen Lawrence, a former premier of Western Australia.

Karen Lester, the daughter of an Aboriginal man who went blind due to British nuclear tests in South Australia in the 1950s, will also be one of the inquiry's commissioners.

Independent MPs David Pocock and Andrew Wilkie have thrown their support behind the review, which is being organised by not-for-profit group Australian Peace and Security Forum.

Other supporters include former MPs, retired military and naval officers, human rights lawyers and union leaders.