A crowdfunded, independent inquiry into the multibillion-dollar AUKUS submarine deal that could potentially result in nuclear submarines being based in the Hunter, will head to Newcastle on Tuesday, August 11.
Led by former Labor minister Peter Garrett, the inquiry is scrutinising the multibillion-dollar submarine agreement and a perceived lack of formal parliamentary oversight.
AUKUS, Australia's most expensive defence acquisition, will have implications for future generations. Yet the commitment to spend nearly $400 billion on eight nuclear-powered submarines failed to receive any serious parliamentary scrutiny.
Mr Garrett said the public should have the opportunity to put their point of view on the AUKUS deal.
"Both Wollongong and Newcastle are in the frame for hosting submarine bases for AUKUS," he said.
"As we heard from former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds at the Perth hearings, this will likely make these great cities future military targets.
"We encourage citizens to register to attend the hearings and hear the evidence for themselves."
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported the contents of a previously secret trove of state government documents about the site selection process for an east coast naval base (ECNB) as part of AUKUS.
They show the establishment of a base in Newcastle would result in the loss of the port's container terminal project, cause a drop in property values and make the city a military target.
A benefit-cost ratio analysis gave a Newcastle base a rating of 1.79 and estimated the project would be worth nearly $150 million to the region.
Hundreds of millions of dollars would be spent on port upgrades and the construction of specialised shipyards, and nuclear-certified facilities, while between 3000 and 5000 highly skilled jobs would also be created over several decades.
But the project's analysts also assessed the community's "willingness to accept" the ECNB and the likely implications it would have on property values and community attitudes.
"The ECNB will harbour submarines that have nuclear reactors fuelled by highly enriched uranium on board," a benefit transfer study said.
"In the event of a military conflict the ECNB could be a target for Australian military adversaries. For these reasons NSW residents may perceive the ECNB similarly to a nuclear power station as a source of environmental disaster risk."
The government assessment cited UK housing data post-Fukushima, which showed a 2.5 per cent drop in home values within a 15-kilometre radius of a nuclear facility.
A spokesman for Defence Industries Minister Pat Conroy previously said the federal government had agreed in principle to the Defence Strategic Review recommendation that an east-coast facility be established for Australia's future submarine capability.
"Further decisions on the east coast base will be made at the appropriate time, in order to meet timelines. A final decision won't be taken until later in the decade," he said.
The Public Inquiry into AUKUS is taking submissions from the public and subject matter experts and holding public hearings in most capital cities.
To date, more than 500 written submissions have been received. Hearings have already been held in Melbourne, Fremantle and Adelaide.
Tuesday's hearing will be held at Newcastle City Hall, Hunter Room between 9:30am and 5:30pm. The inquiry will also be live streamed.
The terms of reference for the Public Inquiry into AUKUS can be found on the inquiry website.
