Australia’s first AUKUS submarines won’t arrive this decade, and we won’t build our own until well past the year 2040.

That hasn’t stopped the hundreds of bureaucrats working on the project from going on a luxury travel spree around the globe – and it’s all being funded by the taxpayer.

The little-known Australian Submarine Agency was set up by the Albanese government two years ago.

It has 900 staff, a budget of $400 million this year, and its head reports directly to the Defence Minister.

Now, 10 News+ has revealed the enormous bill racked up by the department, that we’re all expected to pay for.

Watch more from 10 News+ at 10.com.au