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Ben PackhamForeign affairs and defence correspondent

Ben Packham is The Australian’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years and is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Lowy Institute Media Award.

@bennpackham

Ben Packham

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ExclusiveNation

Hekmatullah (right) shot dead Australian soldiers (left, top to bottom) Sapper James Martin, Private Robert Poate and Lance Corporal Stjepan

Diggers’ rogue killer to walk free

Australian families warned their sons’ killer is likely to be freed within days under a prisoner swap brokered by the Trump administration.

Ben Packham

Defence

Overhaul needed for Defence

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds says her department needs an overhaul to deliver a $270bn upgrade to military capabilities.

Ben Packham

WAR CRIMES INQUIRYDefence

Australia's Minister for Defense Linda Reynolds speaks during a press conference at the US Department of State following the 30th AUSMIN on July 28, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP)

Afghan probe findings ‘uncomfortable’

The Defence Minister issues a warning on an upcoming report’s findings on alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.

Ben Packham

VIRTUAL SUMMITPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA-NCA NewsWire Photos AUGUST 04 2020Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape in Parliament House in Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire /Gary Ramage

Australia, PNG enter new partnership

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his PNG counterpart have agreed to strengthen security co-operation and boost trade and investment opportunities.

Ben Packham

‘akin to Hiroshima’World

A series of images (top left, top right, bottom left) from video captured on Twitter by @FadyRoumieh show the explosion in Beirut. Bottom right: The devastated city.

Beirut blast: Aussie among dozens killed

At least 73 dead, thousands injured as explosion flattens large parts of the city | WARNING: GRAPHIC

Jacquelin Magnay and Ben Packham

Kylie Moore-GilbertNation

Kylie Moore-Gilbert. Picture: University of Melbourne.

Academic’s family relieved after envoys visit Iranian jail

Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s best chance of securing release Iran’s notorious Qarchak Prison is diplomacy, her family says.

Ben Packham

US-CHINA TENSIONSNation

Chinese Presdient Xi Jinping, left, and US President Donald Trump look set on a collison course over the South China Sea

Cold war could spiral into ‘hot war’: Rudd

A dangerous political and strategic cocktail makes risk of armed conflict between the US and China ‘especially high’, former PM Kevin Rudd warns.

Ben Packham

exclusivePolitics

‘Back US on Taiwan or lose ANZUS’

Paul Dibb has warned that Australia would risk losing the ANZUS alliance if it failed to back America in a confrontation with China over Taiwan.

Ben Packham

AUSMIN talksDefence

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listens during a press conference at the US Department of State following the 30th AUSMIN on July 28, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP)

Secret defence pact to counter China

Australia, US establish a top-secret defence framework to counter China, with Darwin at centre of military plans.

Ben Packham and Cameron Stewart

AUSMIN talksPolitics

28/07/2020: Foreign Affairs minister Marise Payne meets with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington DC ahead of AUSMIN 2020.

Australia loath to sail too close to the wind

Scott Morrison has signalled Australia will take a cautious approach joint operations in the South China Sea.

Ben Packham

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/ben-packham/page/185