By peddling AUKUS and the China ‘threat’, Kevin 07 shows his very different vision of Australia

https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/09/14/kevin-rudd-aukus-china-threat-usa-national-press-club/

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Listen to a podcast Keating being interviewed by James Curran releasing his new book Grand Ambition
Paul Keating's global vision for Australia

By peddling AUKUS and the China ‘threat’, Kevin 07 shows his very different vision of Australia

Rudd’s message about AUKUS would have resonated strongly with Washington. After all, Washington, perennially concerned about Canberra’s possible divided loyalties between China and the US, always wants to see more commitment from Canberra. In the reported words of former deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, AUKUS was about “getting Australia off the fence” and having Australia “locked in … for the next 40 years”. Furthermore, for Washington, an important strategic dividend of AUKUS is the establishment of a sustained US submarine presence at HMAS Stirling on Australia’s Indian Ocean coast.

And now, with AUKUS, Australia seems indeed “off the fence”. Kevin from Queensland could be here to help again — this time, to ensure that Australia continues to stay off the fence.

In contrast to Rudd on a mission, Paul Keating, who was in conversation with historian James Curran in Sydney two weeks ago, spoke like someone who has proven his political statesmanship and, having conquered the highest mountain, could share a sweeping, aerial view of both his place in Australia and of Australia’s place in the world.

But the contrast between the two former Labor prime ministers is not just in demeanour. It is also in the substance of their addresses. All in all, it is clear that while Rudd told Australia to be very afraid, Keating’s main point was that his country has become “too afraid”.In the fantasyland of AUKUS, even the good news shows how badly things are goingBernard Keane
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Unlike Rudd, Keating sees Australia’s geography as a strategic advantage. And, scathing about the China threat peddlers in the Australian media, he unequivocally declared that “there’s no threat”.

Keating’s view on AUKUS as a form of deterrence couldn’t be further from that of Rudd: trying to deter China from invading Australia with AUKUS would be as effective as “throwing toothpicks at the mountain”.