Rex Patrick faces potential six-figure legal fee if he loses Aukus documents battle
IPAN's 2026 Conference last weekend had a strong focus on AUKUS nuclear waste and the Force Posture aggrement. For more information and to join IPAN www.ipan.org.au
The government will insist Rex Patrick pays up to $150,000 to cover its legal costs if he loses a fight to access documents about the Aukus agreement, escalating a battle in which several crossbench MPs have swung behind the former senator.
The transparency campaigner has used freedom of information laws to seek details on where nuclear waste from the submarine fleet will be stored, and won an administrative appeal on the matter in May.But the Department of Industry, Science and Resources has appealed the matter to the federal court, seeking the decision be overturned and an order for Patrick to pay the government’s legal costs if he loses.