Australia Seeks Up to $150,000 in Legal Costs from Ex-Senator Over AUKUS FoI Case

Former senator Rex Patrick won a May 2026 tribunal ruling to release AUKUS nuclear waste storage documents. Australia's industry department appealed to federal court and seeks up to $150,000 in personal costs if he loses. Patrick secured a partial cost cap. Senators and transparency groups warn this deters public-interest FoI litigation; the department disputes that model litigant rules bar it.