Category Archives: Australian military

Australia prepared for possible Russian cyber-attacks after troops sent to train Ukraine soldiers – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

Australian Open disrupted by weather

Extreme heat and late night rain has left 22 first-round singles matches cancelled or postponed into day three of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

The Black Hawk capability will be a crucial element for us to protect Australia’s sovereignty, and deliver foreign policy objectives, including providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The Black Hawk will support the deployment of our troops and their equipment where they are needed in times of crisis. The Black Hawk is a reliable, proven and mature platform supported by a robust global supply chain.

This will not only support the capability, but also maximise Australian industry participation, laying a foundation for future helicopter industry growth across the service life of the helicopter.

Delivery of the Black Hawk helicopters will commence this year.

Continue reading...

Liberal senator Jim Molan dies aged 72 after ‘sudden’ decline in health

Posted on by

The NSW senator had a long military career, including serving as major general in the Australian army, before turning to politics

Liberal senator Jim Molan’s former colleagues have mourned the loss of “a true patriot” after he died aged 72.

Molan, one of the architects of operation sovereign borders and a prominent China hawk in Australian politics, suffered a “sudden and rapid” decline in health after Christmas. He died peacefully on Monday in the arms of his family.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Public left in the dark on federal MPs’ use of taxpayer-funded VIP jets

Posted on by

Key reporting systems designed to stop rorting have been offline for an extended period

The loss of two key transparency systems has left the public blind to politicians’ use of taxpayer-funded travel and expenses, including trips taken in costly VIP government jets.

Reporting systems run by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority and the Department of Defence are both inactive, and are expected to remain offline for extended periods.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

News live updates: Albanese flags Australian interest in Papua New Guinea hydro and hydrogen; NSW and Victoria rule out Pell state funeral

Posted on by

Victorian premier says there will not be a state service for cardinal, out of respect for victim-survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. Follow live

Visa processing problems in spotlight

Pat Conroy acknowledged ongoing visa processing issues and said the government was “hopeful that we can get a resolution on that issue”:

People in Papua New Guinea are also very keen on our Pacific engagement visa, which is about creating 3,000 permanent migration spots each year into Australia … and there’s also lots of interest in Papua New Guineans working, studying in Australia as well.

His message around democracies is that [it is] incumbent upon politicians in both countries [to] defend democracy and we defend democracy by demonstrating it’s the best system to deliver actual benefits for the people that we govern. So that’s about investing in stronger health outcomes, lifting stronger economic outcomes.

Continue reading...

Australia live news update: fifth child airlifted to hospital with irukandji jellyfish sting; Albanese and Dutton trade insults over Indigenous voice

Posted on by

Federal opposition leader wants Labor to legislate its preferred model before referendum is held this year. This blog is now closed

‘I’m genuinely interested in advancing the cause of reconciliation’

Peter Dutton is asked about whether the prime minister has been given a copy of his letter – Anthony Albanese has said he has not received it – and Dutton says a copy has been provided to the prime minister’s office and he expects “he will respond in due course”.

I don’t think that’s unreasonable. Certainly not racist. It’s not being opposed to reconciliation. It’s all about, frankly, just being informed about what it is they’re being asked to vote on. I don’t think that is unreasonable to ask the prime minister to provide that.

I’ve met with the prime minister and I’m grateful for the meetings that we’ve had and he knows that I’m genuinely interested in advancing the cause of reconciliation.

I’m speaking of millions of Australians, we’re asking you the reasonable questions.

Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese ‘confident’ about Aukus deal despite US submarine scepticism

Posted on by

Defence minister Richard Marles says Australia will need to make its own industrial contribution for the US and UK deal

Australia is on track to announce plans to buy new nuclear-powered submarines from the US and UK, despite scepticism in Washington, the Albanese government says.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the defence minister, Richard Marles, said Australia’s relationship with the US remained strong after revelations two US senators raised concerns to the president, Joe Biden, the Aukus deal between the three countries could kill off America’s submarine-building industry.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

US senators urge Joe Biden not to sell ‘scarce’ nuclear submarines to Australia

Posted on by

Democrat and Republican lawmakers reportedly warned president that Aukus security pact could stress US submarine industrial base ‘to breaking point’

Two top US senators have urged president Joe Biden not to sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, warning it would diminish US national security given the vessels are “scarce”.

The intervention confirms the US is under pressure not to sell its submarines before Australia is able to build its own as part of the Aukus alliance – meaning it could be decades before Australia gains nuclear submarines.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Internal fight over poker machine revenue threatens future of RSL Victoria, president warns

Posted on by

Exclusive: RSL Victoria is locked in a dispute with sub-branches refusing to sign up to plan designed to rescue state branch’s finances

The president of RSL Victoria has warned an internal fight over poker machine revenue represents an “ominous” threat to the future of the organisation, leaked documents show.

The RSL is locked in a dispute with 10 sub-branches that have refused to sign up to a new funding model designed to rescue the state branch’s finances, which are described as at “a tipping point” with no cash reserves.

Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads

Continue reading...

Australian defence force to spend $1bn acquiring naval strike missiles and army rocket systems

Posted on by

Government says purchase of truck-mounted rockets ‘largest expansion of army strike capability in living memory’ with range extended from 50km to 300km

Australia will spend more than $1bn on new naval missiles and acquiring a US rocket artillery system used by the Ukrainian military.

The defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, said the acquisition of 20 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) including launchers, missiles and training rockets, from US defence contractor Lockheed Martin was the “largest expansion of army strike capability in living memory”, reflecting the need to deter threats in a time of “strategic uncertainty”.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Australian defence force members warned they face prosecution if they plant weapons on people killed in combat

Posted on by

Directive also orders personnel not to ‘sanitise’ reports and warns commanders of their potential liability for subordinates’ actions

The Australian defence force has warned its members they face criminal or disciplinary action if they plant weapons on people killed in action.

A directive obtained by Guardian Australia also tells ADF personnel not to “sanitise” official reports or to handle evidence inappropriately, after the inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Australia news live: charges laid against operators of REDcycle soft plastic recycling scheme

Posted on by

Follow all the day’s news

Wieambilla siege victim Alan Dare to be awarded police bravery medal

An innocent man killed during a violent encounter at a rural Queensland property will be awarded the Queensland Police Bravery Medal.

Well, I think matters about Scott Morrison’s future are best addressed to him.

The review did sign that Scott was personally unpopular and they’ve been very, very effectively demonised in an intense, aggressive and continuing campaign by the Labor party and by the broader green left campaigning apparatus.

Continue reading...

Secret report warns of morale and mental health issues among Australia’s elite soldiers

Posted on by

Exclusive: Richard Marles told Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment members have expressed ‘anger and grief’ about the situation

A secret report has warned of morale issues and a “high” demand for mental health support services amongst Australia’s elite soldiers.

The report warns the defence minister, Richard Marles, that some members of the elite Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment have expressed “anger and grief” about the situation. It urges the government to ensure health services are properly resourced.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

US asks Australia for extradition of former Marines pilot Daniel Duggan

Posted on by

Lawyer says Duggan maintains his innocence after US accused him of training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers

The US government has sent an extradition request to Australia for former US Marines pilot Daniel Duggan, who is accused of breaking US arms control laws by training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers.

“The US has made a formal request for extradition for Mr Duggan,” Trent Glover, a lawyer for the US government, told a Sydney local court on Friday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Senior public servant under scrutiny at robodebt inquiry appointed head of Aukus project office

Posted on by

Former head of Department of Human Services Kathryn Campbell has come under extensive questioning at the royal commission into robodebt

Kathryn Campbell, one of the senior public servants being questioned at the robodebt royal commission, has been appointed head of the Aukus joint project office at the Department of Defence.

Labor put its stamp on the public service when it won the election, moving Campbell out of the role of head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Penny Wong issues emphatic plea to US and China to ‘prevent catastrophe’ of war

Posted on by

Australia’s foreign affairs minister to give speech in hope ‘nationalistic domestic posturing won’t sink efforts to build safeguards’

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has urged China to take up a US offer to put in place “guardrails” to prevent growing tensions from spiralling into war.

Wong will use a speech in Washington DC on Thursday to hit back at claims that Australia’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under Aukus is driving a regional arms race.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Australia’s first nuclear submarines should be built in the US, Andrew Hastie says

Posted on by

‘There’s too much risk in doing it on our own’, says shadow defence minister citing an immediate need for ‘hard power’

Australia should strike a deal with the US to have the first of its nuclear-powered submarines built in Connecticut as “there’s too much risk in doing it on our own”, the shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, has declared.

Speaking before senior Australian ministers meet their counterparts in the US this week, Hastie said Australia should seek one or two Virginia-class submarines off the US production line by the end of 2030.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

ABC article defamed commando by naming him and running ‘huge colour photo’, court told

Posted on by

Heston Russell’s lawyer tells federal court readers were given ‘impression’ he was responsible for shooting an unarmed prisoner in Afghanistan

Lawyers for a former special forces officer have argued an ABC article portrayed him as a war criminal, despite not directly alleging he had committed crimes.

Heston Russell is suing the ABC and two of its investigative journalists over stories published in 2020 and 2021 which he argues gave readers the “impression” he was responsible for shooting an unarmed prisoner and was being investigated.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Defence training pushed recruits beyond their limits with fatal outcomes, ex-soldier tells inquiry

Posted on by

‘Every year there was a suicide,’ James Geercke says on first day of royal commission hearings in Wagga Wagga

A former soldier says he and fellow Australian Defence Force Academy recruits were so traumatised by their extreme training regime they began hallucinating and some became suicidal.

James Geercke joined the academy in 2008 as an 18-year-old. On Monday, he told the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide that recruits were routinely pushed to their limits.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 or chat for support. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

Continue reading...

Australian special forces member allegedly stole and published personal data of intelligence official

Posted on by

ADF is investigating alleged theft and use of cybertools to hack private accounts of Australian serving with overseas intelligence organisation

An Australian serving within a military intelligence organisation of a Five Eyes ally has allegedly had his personal data stolen from within the Australian Defence Force’s secure personnel system and posted online.

Australia’s joint military police unit is investigating an allegation that a serving member of Australia’s special forces unlawfully accessed the data of the intelligence official and posted personal and sensitive data in an online location accessible to the public.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

News live updates: Medibank, Optus among companies shunning privacy law hearing in ‘collective failure of corporate Australia’

Posted on by

Greens senator David Shoebridge has criticised notable absences at a Senate committee looking at privacy laws today. Follow the day’s news live

ADF personnel to help in NSW as government works on dedicated disaster workforce

Murray Watt is asked about a permanent disaster workforce to assist during national disasters and their clean-up, given the pressure put on the defence force.

The ADF does certainly play a role, particularly in the recovery phase. And just yesterday we activated more defence forces to go into western New South Wales to assist so over the next couple of days, we expect to see 200 defence force personnel helping there to top up these state-based services. But the reality is all of this is putting a huge amount of pressure, whether it be on those state-based services or the ADF. And that’s why in this budget, we committed over $30m to a volunteer veteran organisation called Disaster Relief Australia to sort of top up the kind of services that are available for communities, particularly in that clean-up phase.

But we’re going to be keeping on doing some work on this about what we need to put in place as a country to supplement the ADF and I’d be hopeful that we might be able to bring that to a conclusion around about the budget next year.

There’s insurance costs so let alone the huge damage bill that individuals are going to be incurring themselves.

So I think everyone is unfortunately going to be having to put their hands in their pockets for for this unfolding event that just won’t go away.

So even if we weren’t to get any more rain, we’re going to be looking at even more damage from the existing flood waters. And, as I say, I think we’re likely to see more. We’ve also got to remember that we haven’t yet seen the cyclone season start whether that be in north Queensland, Western Australia or Northern Territory. So unfortunately I haven’t got a lot of good news for people except for the fact that there is unlikely to be a lot of rain over the next couple of days. So that’s a good thing.

Continue reading...