When the US defence secretary announced on Wednesday (US time) that a US fast-attack submarine had sunk an Iranian ship off the coast of Sri Lanka, it immediately raised questions about Australian involvement, because of the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine deal.

According to Australia’s defence department, “one in 10” of the crew members on US-flagged Virginia class submarines are Australian, embedded as part of the Aukus training program. So was the submarine that sunk the Iranian ship a Virginia class? Were Australian crew onboard?

On Thursday, the Australian government refused to be drawn. “US submarine operations,” said the Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, “are a matter for the United States”. The government line was that “for operational and security reasons we do not disclose specific information regarding personnel”.

Until they do. On Thursday night, reports emerged that there were indeed two Australian crew on board. By Friday morning, the Australian prime minister confirmed that there were in fact three Australian crew serving on the submarine.

What was so secret on Thursday that was not secret enough on Friday for the prime minister to continue to keep it secret? Did the government not know if there were Australians aboard before then? Or did they just refuse to disclose........

© The Guardian