On Friday, 17 July, a dedicated First Nations hearing for the crowd-funded public inquiry into AUKUS will be held at the Event Theatre at 55 Exchange Place, Conservation Council, in Tarntanya.

The hearing will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share firsthand how AUKUS and the planned development of nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia could affect Country, the sea, sovereignty, and the future of their communities.

The inquiry is being led by a panel of commissioners including Yankunytjatjara woman Karina Lester, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force Admiral Chris Barrie, former Western Australian Premier and academic Carmen Lawrence, Australia Institute Co-CEO Leanne Minshull, and Midnight Oil frontman and Landcare Australia Chair Peter Garrett.

AW spoke with Karina Lester about the upcoming hearing, why a dedicated First Nations process is so important, and how First Nations communities can have their voices heard through the inquiry.