Originally Posted by
helispotter
I say again: Peter Dutton stated clearly on an ABC TV interview years back (7:30 Report?) that the AUKUS plan was known to only a hand full of people. So let's make some assumptions: Morrison, Dutton, CDF?, Sec Def?, a few other cabinet ministers?, some ministerial advisers, some go betweens with USA and UK. Already more than a hand full. Where in all this is a real (departmental) "Defence recommendation"? Hey Rex??
Assuming CDF knew but Chief of Navy didn't even know about until he attended a meeting in the UK a few months prior to the announcement, there was an in principle agreement already and he turned up to meeting where they told him about it