Rex Patrick is a former senator from South Australia. Before that, he was a submariner in the Navy.

Last year, he noticed a reference to a new arm of the Australian Federal Police called the AUKUS Command.

He wanted to know more, so he lodged Freedom of Information requests with the Australian Submarine Agency and the Australian Federal Police. 

The documents he got back were heavily redacted – but he was able to form a picture of a secretive new command set up to protect AUKUS submarines. 

But hidden in the fine print were plans to surveil protest, manage dissent, and deploy force against it. 

Today, Rex Patrick on the Australian Federal Police, their new powers to protect America’s interests in Australia, and what it means for the future of protest.

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Guest: Former submariner and former senator for South Australia, Rex Patrick

Photo: AAP Image/Pool, Colin Murty