Labor is pitching AUKUS as an opportunity for “high tech” jobs. The City of Newcastle is conducting a survey which, among other questions, asks if respondents approve of a missile factory adjacent the Newcastle Airport/Williamtown Air Force base.

While the survey is packaged as a “have your say” and “engagement activity”, the old adage that inquiries only go ahead once the outcome has been determined seems to be borne out by the survey on the Newcastle Airport precinct.

The airport is jointly owned by Newcastle and Port Stephens councils.

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The survey only arose because Greens councillor Charlotte McCabe correctly questioned why the airport could not follow City of Newcastle’s own Investment and Borrowing Policy and reject the proposed Astra Aerolab factory.

However, we have been told the consultation “won’t decide whether Astra Aerolab goes ahead” as this decision is “already in progress”.

Furthermore, we are being told how a “new industrial park attracting advanced........

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