This Month
Rudd ‘confident’ on AUKUS review, rejects defence spending claims
Australia’s ambassador to the US rejects suggestions Canberra is not spending enough on defence and says issues raised about AUKUS will be resolved.
Australia hands over first tranche of tanks to Ukraine
Australia has delivered most of the 49 Abrams tanks it pledged at a value of $245 million to complement other military equipment donated by allies.
Peter Varghese is wrong. AUKUS is our path to defence self-reliance
Australia shouldn’t give in to every US request, but quitting would be reckless. A capable navy, centred on nuclear submarines, underwrites our security and economy.
I ran DFAT. I hope Elbridge Colby sinks AUKUS for Australia
The US might yet save us from ourselves by adding conditions to the nuclear submarine agreement that no Australian government could accept.
KPMG feels the burn of $200m in public service consulting cuts
The firm once counted $500 million in revenues from government agencies. While it and its peers have fallen out of favour, one rival has doubled its business.
Albanese stuck between Trump and China as he spruiks trade and tourism
Anthony Albanese has rebuffed US pressure to commit to defending Taiwan from attack, overshadowing a six-day visit to China aimed at bolstering economic ties with Australia’s biggest trading partner.
Why Albanese will stay vague on US-China war push
The Trump administration is asking Australia to outline a role in any conflict with China over Taiwan, even though the US is ambiguous about its own moves.
Henry is right about broken environmental laws
Readers’ letters on Ken Henry’s productivity advice, CBA’s reform pitch, mental health claim-gouging and the need for clear-eyed vision on China ties.
US demands to know what Australia would do in a war over Taiwan
The Trump administration says it is trying to prevent a war, but it is raising eyebrows by calling for commitments from Australia and Japan.
Britain and France join forces on nuclear deterrents for first time
France is part of NATO but has maintained a completely independent nuclear posture, while Britain’s deterrent forms part of the alliance’s defence strategy.
Europe to stockpile critical minerals due to risk of war
General Carsten Breuer, the German chief of defence, warned last month that Russia could attack an EU member state within the next four years.
Inside Labor’s defence spending fight
Defence Minister Richard Marles is weighing a restructure of the sprawling bureaucracy.
China’s grip on critical minerals revives supply fears at Quad meeting
Australia will work with the US and other Asia-Pacific partners to secure the commodities, even as the Trump administration continues to snub Canberra’s offer.
PM needs to fix defence dysfunction before spending increase
An auditor-general’s report raises uncomfortable questions for the Defence Department over accountability and transparency.
June
Defence minister left in the dark over formal reporting
The military has been accused of hiding bad news by failing to provide formal updates to Richard Marles on the ADF’s readiness for war.
US materials play 6K Additive eyes ASX float; launches raising
The metal and alloy powders manufacturer is seeking to raise around $15 million from investors at a $150 million pre-money valuation.
Albanese meeting Trump will come with an unavoidable cost
Albanese’s rhetoric about Australia not being dictated to by the US may play well domestically, but Donald Trump has been playing hardball on defence spending.
Guess what ‘independent foreign policy’ would cost the budget?
Those calling for Australia to not go all the way with Trump’s unpredictable America never tell us it would mean tripling the defence budget for a couple of decades.
Alarm sounded over navy ships riddled with defects
Ongoing issues with defects in the navy’s biggest ships could shake faith in Australia’s ability to operate nuclear-powered submarines.
Farrell plays down Trump trade threat over defence spending
The Albanese government believes Australia will be spared further tariff hikes if it refuses to bow to the defence spending demands of the Trump administration.