A Labor senior figure and former longest-serving foreign minister criticizes the AUKUS submarine program, arguing it is likely to be judged as one of Australia’s worst foreign policy and defence mistakes. Reporting from multiple outlets describes the comments as part of Labor’s broader assessment of the AUKUS arrangements, with the former minister characterizing the country as having been turned into a “compliant cash cow.” The sources describe the claim in general terms rather than detailing specific contract or policy steps, but they agree that the central message is the program’s long-term strategic and financial implications. All three articles frame the remarks as a retrospective evaluation of the submarine plan and its expected historical legacy, suggesting the criticism is intended to influence current political debate about Australia’s defence procurement and alliance commitments. None of the summaries provided include a direct response from the government or AUKUS partners, and they do not cite new evidence beyond the stated assessment by the Labor figure.