Pyne, Patrick and Gaczol appear at Adelaide hearing
The Public Inquiry into AUKUS held its South Australian hearing in Adelaide on Thursday 16 July 2026, with former federal defence minister Christopher Pyne and former senator Rex Patrick listed to give evidence.
Proceedings ran from 10am to 6pm at the Conservation Council Event Theatre, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide. A doorstop with inquiry commissioner Peter Garrett and other commissioners was scheduled for 9.45am before the hearing opened.
Organisers describe the process as a crowdfunded, independent public inquiry. Adelaide formed part of a national programme of hearings in most capital cities.
Christopher Pyne, Rex Patrick, Andrew Gaczol
Morning evidence also included Andrew Gaczol, a former Defence Department analyst. He previously served as principal research officer for the Senate Economic References Committees inquiry into Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding capability.
Rex Patrick brought both parliamentary and military experience to the hearing. Before entering the Senate, he worked as a submariner.
During the afternoon session, representatives from Port Adelaide Community Opposing AUKUS, Friends of the Earth and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network were due to appear.
By 16 July 2026, the inquiry had received more than 500 written submissions from members of the public and subject matter experts.
Hearings had already taken place in Melbourne and Fremantle. Organisers called those sessions highly successful, and Sydney and other east coast hearings were set for mid August 2026.
At the centre of the inquiry is the AUKUS deal, which organisers value at $368 billion. They argue that figure makes public scrutiny urgent.
A livestream of the Adelaide proceedings was available on the Public Inquiry into AUKUS YouTube channel.
Last updated: 17 July 2026, 12:06 pm
