Penny Wong’s brutal dig at Paul Keating after he called the AUKUS deal the ‘worst’ in history 

Paul Keating “diminished” his legacy with his blistering attack on the Albanian government’s support for AUKUS, Penny Wong said.

The secretary of state made the comments Monday during an appearance at the National Press Club, where she gave a candid assessment of the strategic environment.

In the speech, she warned that a war over Taiwan would be “catastrophic for everyone,” while defending the rationale behind the AUKUS pact.

“By having strong defense capabilities ourselves and working with partners who invest in their own capabilities, we are changing the calculus for any potential aggressor,” said Senator Wong.

We must ensure that no state ever concludes that the benefits of conflict outweigh the risks. This is fundamental to ensuring the safety and security of our nation and our people.”

While she did not directly mention Mr Keating in her prepared remarks, several of her arguments contradicted the criticism he advanced in his own NPC speech last month.

The former prime minister called the plan to spend up to $368 billion on a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines “the worst deal in all history” and ridiculed Secretary of State and Defense Richard Marles.

When asked if she had been given an advance warning or if she had spoken to him since the comments, Senator Wong was blunt.

“You can probably fix that yourself,” she joked.

“What I would say about the Pacific is the importance of the Pacific to Australia,” she said.

“The importance of a peaceful, stable region for Australia…is well understood by Prime Ministers, Prime Ministers and Governments.

‘To Mr. Keating I would like to say this; I think he has reduced in time and content both his legacy and the subject.’

Paul Keating Described Australia’s AUKUS Nuclear Subs Deal As The ‘Worst’ In History’

Senator Wong’s speech comes amid rising tensions in the region following China’s recent military exercises near Taiwan.

The Foreign Secretary argued that Australia wanted a situation where ‘no country dominates and no country is dominated’ and stressed the need to develop ‘guard rails’ in the region.

“The guardrails developed in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis serve as a guideline,” she said.

“President Biden has reached out to China to agree to guardrails. It is in the interest of the whole world that his rapprochement be fulfilled. I said this to my Chinese counterpart and to his predecessor. And I’ll keep saying it.’

The government is expected to hand over its long-awaited defense strategic review later this month, which will set the stage for a review of the ADF.

Senator Wong said Australia had a responsibility ‘to play our part in the collective deterrence of aggression’.

“This is fundamental to ensuring the safety and security of our nation and our people,” she said.

Our foreign and defense policies are two vital and interdependent parts of how we make Australia stronger and more influential in the world.

“Together, they make it more difficult for states to force or threaten to force other states against their interests.”