Australia's plan to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will not be impacted by the shock resignation of Britain's defence secretary over a lack of military funding, Labor says.
Accusing his government of failing to adequately fund defence, John Healey quit from the UK ministry in protest, resulting in the last-minute cancellation of a press conference planned with federal Defence Minister Richard Marles at a naval base in Portsmouth.
Cabinet minister Tim Ayres said Mr Healey's departure will have no effect on the AUKUS agreement.
"This is a partnership that has deep support across all three countries, political systems within the public service, and the defence agencies in all three countries," he told ABC Radio on Friday.
"There will be over the life of this agreement ... many ministers for defence for all three countries, many secretaries for war in the United States' case, who are there charged with delivering this program."
