March
Ghost soldiers: 5000 ADF personnel disappear
Funding for thousands of troops has been wiped out to offset years of failures to meet recruitment targets, just as pressure rises to boost Australia’s defence capability.
Labor’s $1b fast-tracked defence spending falls short of target
Analysts and defence firms have questioned whether $1 billion in funding will make a difference to Australia’s military build-up.
The former MPs cashing in on Australia’s defence spending boom
Former defence ministers have ties to dozens of military companies, lobbying outfits, strategic advisory firms and think tanks.
Labor breaks cover to fast-track $50b defence spending
The government and opposition are trading barbs over who can best deliver an increase in defence spending.
Coalition weighs spending billions more on defence
A Dutton government may boost the military’s funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP, as US president Donald Trump demands allies spend more on defence.
Khaki election: Trump’s ‘Mean Girls’ diplomacy prompts defence rethink
This week on The Fin podcast, Andrew Tillett and James Curran on how Donald Trump has disrupted the world order.
Albanese rebuffs Trump over call to lift to defence spending
While Labor comes under fire over military readiness, figures show defence spending as a share of the federal budget is at highest in almost a decade.
February
Albanese all at sea when it comes to fine details
The controversy over the Chinese live-firing drills in the Tasman Sea has come at an uncomfortable time for Anthony Albanese.
As Trump sides with Putin, Europe’s urgent race to rearm
If the US military ships out, the Europeans will need speed, cohesion and piles of money – not exactly attributes they’re famous for.
Trump has 500 million reasons to back AUKUS. It might not be enough
The new Pentagon chief has shut down one avenue of criticism of AUKUS but pitfalls remain.
January
Here are Europe’s three big fears in a Trumpian world
If it fails to adapt, the European Commission may end up looking like the Los Angeles fire department – scrambling after the damage has already been done.
Billions more needed for defence to ward off China: military experts
As Donald Trump demands allies spend more, Australia’s security community says about 3 per cent of gross domestic product is the new benchmark for military expenditure.
These 10 charts show how our region is preparing for war
Alarm over China’s ‘one-sided’ surge in military spending has prompted a regional arms race – and Australia is part of it.
December 2024
Trump won’t torpedo AUKUS subs deal, says Marles
Despite fears the president-elect will cool on the pact as the US struggles to produce enough submarines, the Australian defence minister says he will back the deal.
Collins-class submarines listed as ‘product of concern’
The government has promised to fix maintenance issues with the navy’s submarine fleet amid concerns they can’t go to sea as much.
What Defence spent on consultants could run submarine fleet for a year
What would Defence’s $811 million in spending on the big five consulting firms in 2022-23 buy? Turns out the answer is quite a lot.
November 2024
Defence considers recruiting from PNG to see off China’s influence
In the jockeying for influence, the South Pacific’s largest nation has emerged as a key target given its proximity to Australia and rich natural resources.
Taiwan considers big US defence purchases to please Trump
The deliberations come as countries consider how to avoid becoming a target of the new administration, given the Republican’s call for allies to spend more.
$10b warship decision months away despite China fears
The government has whittled down to two contenders for a lucrative navy project, but there are questions why a final decision won’t be made until mid-year.
Navy’s $10b warship contest down to Germans, Japanese
The Albanese government will make a final decision next year on the winning designer for a contract to build 11 new light frigates for the navy.