Beijing has warned Australia to “be careful” against acting on its “unwarranted anxieties toward China”, questioning how relations can improve while Canberra accuses it of coercion. In an opinion piece by Chinese government mouthpiece the Global Times, Beijing lamented that despite a significant thawing in the bilateral relationship, Australia’s newlyContinue Reading
Autonomous, stealthy undersea robots known as “Ghost Sharks”, capable of gathering intelligence, will become a centrepiece in Australia’s bid to bolster its ocean patrols and protections. The Albanese government has doubled down in its commitment to delivering the Ghost Shark program, confirming it would become “mission zero” for the AdvancedContinue Reading
Beijing has taken aim at the Albanese government’s inaugural national defence strategy, urging Canberra to drop its “Cold War mentality” as it denied China posed any risk to regional stability. Defence Minister Richard Marles unveiled the strategy on Wednesday, announcing Australia would bolster its navy over the next decade toContinue Reading
Defence projects collectively worth billions are set to face the chopping block with funding instead freed up for investments in armed drones and missiles, an overhaul of defence spending has revealed. In an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Defence Minister Richard Marles released the federal government’s NationalContinue Reading
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has indicated the federal government is considering recognising Palestinian statehood, which would help “build momentum towards a two-state solution” with Israel. The government’s criticism of Israel has increased recently as violence escalated in Gaza, with former ADF chief Mark Binskin appointed to scrutinise Israel’s investigationContinue Reading
Vice Admiral David Johnston will replace Angus Campbell as the nation’s next Defence chief in July. Anthony Albanese announced the major defence shake up on Tuesday alongside Defence Minister Richard Marles. “Vice Admiral Johnson is a proven leader, with the experience, intellect and resolve to lead the ADF in aContinue Reading
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are considering working with Japan on future AUKUS projects, the three countries have confirmed in news that will “gravely concern” China. Stopping short of announcing a formal expansion of the trilateral partnership, Defence Minister Richard Marles and his AUKUS counterparts said inContinue Reading
Former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon has opened up about the death of his son, Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, in a heartbreaking television interview. Jack died after suffering critical injuries in a parachuting incident during special forces training at RAAF Base Richmond in northern Sydney on March 6. Mr FitzgibbonContinue Reading
Australian religious schools should not retain the right to discriminate against teachers and staff based on their sexuality, the deputy prime minister has said. Under pressure to answer if religious schools should be allowed to hire and fire a teacher based on whether they’re gay, Richard Marles described the issueContinue Reading
Kevin Rudd’s history of disparaging Donald Trump has been thrust back into the limelight, as the Australian government denies a diplomatic firestorm is looming. Old comments made by Mr Rudd resurfaced this week, prompting the Republican presidential nominee to threaten to push the US ambassador out if re-elected. In anContinue Reading