Commentary The Defence White Paper published by the Australian government in 2016 was the most far-reaching, comprehensive of its type. Projecting forward for 20 years, the paper, and its accompanying Defence Industry White Paper, proposed a major program of defence acquisitions to ensure the nation’s security. It also pegged the Defence expenditure base to at…

The federal government is now considering the results of a six-month review of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to determine whether it is fit for purpose to deal with a militarily aggressive Chinese Communist Party. The report was ordered last August by the newly elected Labor government and came just two years after the 2020…

Defence Minister Richard Marles has announced a review into ex-members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) after reports retired personnel may have been approached to provide military-related training in China. In a statement on Nov. 9, Marles, also the deputy prime minister, said that a preliminary investigation had found enough evidence to warrant a detailed…

Defence Minister Richard Marles has announced a review into ex-members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) after reports retired personnel may have been approached to provide military-related training in China. In a statement on Nov. 9, Marles, also the deputy prime minister, said that a preliminary investigation had found enough evidence to warrant a detailed…

Australian sailors have practised defending their warship from attacking aircraft and missiles in mock battles during navy war games off the Northern Territory. The maritime warfare training is part of Exercise Kakadu, which has seen 3000 sailors, pilots, submariners and defence experts from 20 countries sharpening their skills to strengthen regional partnerships. “It’s very exciting,”…

Labor Defence Minister Richard Marles has overturned a ban on workplace social justice activities, including LGBT morning teas, in Australia’s Department of Defence. The initial ban was implemented last year under former Coalition Defence Minister Peter Dutton. On Aug. 23, media outlets revealed that Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty and Chief of Defence General Angus Campbell…

It was customary for soldiers of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to “break in” their standard combat boots. “There were not many people who actually had to carry packs and equipment long distances who didn’t have to bash these boots in to make sure they didn’t hurt their feet,” said Heston Russell, a former special…

The Australian Labor government is launching its promised review of the defence force to deal with the “nation’s security challenges over the next decade and beyond,” according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The latest review will be carried out by the former Labor Defence Minister Stephen Smith and former Chief of the Defence Force Angus…

Amid the backdrop of the United States and Australia strengthening military co-operation while tensions in the Indo-Pacific ramp up, U.S. Marines are currently undertaking protection and evacuation training in Australia’s Northern Territory. The group, part of a contingent of more than 2,000 marines based in Darwin until October, are stationed on Bathurst Island, part of…

Australian soldiers dispatched to the Solomon Islands last year after violent riots razed parts of the capital Honiara to the ground admitted to Heston Russell, a former special force operative, that they were “providing security for the Chinese.” “They said to me, ‘We didn’t know what we were doing there because the people of the…