About five per cent of people serving in the defence force experienced sexual misconduct last year, while six allegations of sexual assault were made against people in the military during 2022. Defence officials cited recent survey data showing high rates of sexual assault complaints in the Australian Defence Force afterContinue Reading
Australia’s defence force is struggling to recruit new staff, while the number of top brass is surging, senate estimates have revealed. In a lengthy hearing on Wednesday, chief of defence force Angus Campbell conceded that the entire defence force was more than 4300 personnel – or seven per cent –Continue Reading
The Coalition and Greens are demanding answers after it was revealed defence personnel on-board the now-defunct Taipan helicopter fleet were flying with equipment deemed to carry an “increased risk” in certain situations by internal testing. Pilots on the military aircraft were using a helmet-mounted display system that one test hadContinue Reading
Australia has backed the United States after it carried out retaliatory air strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq. Three US troops were killed and dozens were injured last week after Iranian-backed militants launched a drone strike in Jordan. In launching the counter-attacks on Friday, US President Joe BidenContinue Reading
Defence Minister and VIP flyer Richard Marles has spent $3 million of taxpayers’ money on plane travel since the last election – not $3.6 million, as previously thought. Complaining that the Deputy Prime Minister had been “stitched up” by dodgy data, published by his own department, Mr Marles’ supporters haveContinue Reading
Anthony Albanese’s female cavoodle Toto has been flying high on the taxpayer-funded VIP plane, but the defence department won’t reveal where she’s being picked up or dropped off citing national security concerns. Globe-trotting Anthony Albanese has rung up a $5 million bill for VIP flights since he was elected lastContinue Reading
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office has flatly denied that he has nicknamed the VIP airbus he travels in after his dog Toto despite confirmation that his female cavoodle is sometimes snuck onto the plane. There was a deathly silence when news.com.au first inquired in September, if the persistent rumours wereContinue Reading
Russia’s hound of war is baying for Europe’s blood. But is embattled Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s bark worse than his bite? On Thursday, Shoigu told his ministry’s governing council that the Kremlin will move to “strengthen troop formations” along its western frontier following Finland’s inclusion in the NATO alliance. HeContinue Reading
Hundreds of Chinese-made surveillance cameras have been found at defence sites across Australia, well above the initial estimate of just one. Defence officials appearing at senate estimates on Wednesday revealed an audit process had found 435 devices made by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua at its sites. In February, defenceContinue Reading
The Defence Department has revealed it has 54 contracts worth more than $223m with embattled consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The firm, which has ordered nine senior partners on leave and is subject to an Australian Federal Police investigation, has become embroiled after a former senior tax consultant leaked confidential information obtainedContinue Reading