Deputy PM visits Shoalwater Bay to watch as Talisman Sabre roars into life

Deputy PM Richard Marles was in Shoalwater Bay on Tuesday to witness Australian and allied troops as they prepare for future war in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles visited troops at Australia’s biggest military exercise - Exercise Talisman Sabre - as it roared into life with an explosive bang at Shoalwater Bay, north of Rockhampton in central Queensland.

This year’s event is the biggest in its history, with more than a dozen nations and 35,000 troops participating in the biannual event.

On Tuesday Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles went to Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 at Shoalwater Bay and visited Camp Tilda and Role 2 Hospital before seeing a live fire demonstration by the Republic of Korea. Picture Steve Vit

In the three weeks Talisman Sabre will run, troops will undertake live fire drills, amphibious landings, ground force maneuvers, and air combat and maritime operations.

Originally conceived as a way to build Australia’s interoperability with the US, Mr Marles said the exercise was also important in building relationships with other countries.

In its eleventh run, this year’s Talisman Sabre comes as Australia grapples with dealing with a more assertive China, as well as ongoing crises in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Mr Marles was flown in via a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to Shoalwater Bay, situated just north of Rockhampton, for Exercise Talisman Sabre 25. Picture Steve Vit

The deputy prime minister visited a temporary military hospital run by troops to treat their comrades who suffer injuries and perform “damage control surgeries” before they are airlifted to medical facilities outside the operation, if necessary.

Mr Marles also witnessed a live fire demonstration by self-propelled artillery manned by troops of the Republic of Korea.

During his visit to Shoalwater Bay Mr Marles witnessed a live fire artillery exercise by troops from the Republic of Korea. who manned two self-propelled guns. Picture Steve Vit

The Korean troops were some of the 35,000 Australian and allied troops taking part in the biannual military exercise which will comprise of operations carried out, across Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, Christmas Island and, for the first time, Papua New Guinea.

Alongside Australian and Korean troops, military personnel from the US, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom are also taking part in this year’s Talisman Sabre.

Meanwhile, Malaysia and Vietnam are attending the exercise as observers.

One of the CH-47 Chinook helicopters which took Mr Marles to Shoalwater Bay. Picture Steve Vit

In response to a media question, Mr Marles said there had been no evidence of surveillance from the Chinese military or other nations not part of Talisman Sabre.

“It is an example or manifestation of the fact we are a partner of choice in terms of exercises for countries around the world,” Mr Marles said.

“This would represent one of the largest if not the largest military exercise that occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

“It is really one of the most complex military exercises anywhere in the world.

“What you are witnessing is the most important event we do… to rehearse the activities of the Australian Defence Force but also in many respects, to certify a whole lot of skills and capabilities within the Australian Defence Force.”