Richard Marles has admitted there is an “issue of culture” within the broader defence leadership amid reports of a fractured relationship with the ADF and his department.

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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles admits there is an ‘issue of culture’ within the broader Defence leadership | Sky News Australia

Australia’s decision to support the U.N. resolution advocating for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations has sparked criticism and disagreement, particularly from allies like the United States and Israel. This move diverges from the stance of key partners, indicating a significant departure in diplomatic alignment.

The resolution, which gained considerable international backing, emphasizes Palestine’s eligibility for U.N. membership without mentioning Hamas or addressing critical issues such as hostage situations. While Australia’s vote aligns with the majority, it contrasts with the abstentions of other nations like the United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries.

The rejection of the resolution by the United States at the U.N. Security Council exacerbates tensions and underscores the divergent approaches to achieving Palestinian statehood. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized the preference for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority as the primary avenue for progress, dismissing the resolution as counterproductive.

In defending Australia’s decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong stressed the resolution’s merits in advancing the goal of a two-state solution, sidelining Hamas’s terrorist activities. However, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham expressed concerns that the resolution’s support could be interpreted as rewarding violence and terrorism over diplomatic dialogue, highlighting the absence of explicit references to Hamas and Israel’s right to exist.

This divergence in perspectives within Australia’s political landscape reflects broader global tensions and complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, underscoring the challenges of finding consensus and advancing meaningful solutions in the quest for peace and stability in the region.

The resolution the Albanese government supported doesn’t mention Hamas, let alone call for their surrender. It also doesn’t call for the release of hostages held by Hamas and doesn’t make respect for Israel’s right to exist a precondition of action.

The completion of the first full-scale test at sea of the Manta Ray prototype marks a significant milestone in the advancement of underwater drone technology. Developed by the esteemed US aviation company Northrop Grumman, this futuristic autonomous craft represents a pivotal element of the US Navy’s ambitious project to revolutionize maritime operations with a new class of underwater drones.

Designed to hibernate on the seabed, the Manta Ray prototype showcases unparalleled capabilities in endurance and autonomy. Its capacity to operate for extended periods without supervision or the need for refuelling underscores its potential to conduct prolonged missions, making it a formidable asset in naval operations.

Dr. Kyle Woerner, the program manager of the Manta Ray project at the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), elucidated on the craft’s innovative propulsion system. Harnessing efficient buoyancy-driven gliding, the Manta Ray effortlessly navigates the depths of the ocean with remarkable agility and stealth.

The strategic implications of the Manta Ray’s development are profound. Analysts speculate that the US Navy’s interest in this cutting-edge technology is driven by the imperative to enhance its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, particularly in monitoring the activities of rival maritime powers such as Russia and China. With its adaptable payload bays capable of accommodating various mission-specific equipment, the Manta Ray emerges as a versatile platform poised to fulfill a spectrum of naval objectives.

As the Manta Ray project progresses, it heralds a new era in underwater warfare and maritime intelligence, affirming the United States’ commitment to maintaining superiority in naval operations through innovation and technological prowess.

The Battle of Kapyong has come to be known as the most significant and important battle for Australian troops in the Korean War.

Photo: Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat is expected to undergo crewed and uncrewed teaming testing, for the first time, next year (Photo: Australia DoD)

The head of the Royal Australian Air Force revealed plans to test the Ghost Bat drone for collaborative missions, marking a significant step in Australian aviation. Air Marshal Robert Chipman, speaking at the Air & Space Conference, emphasized the potential for crewed and uncrewed teaming to enhance combat capabilities. This initiative aligns with the broader strategy to optimize existing resources, highlighted by the recent allocation of $400 million AUD for additional Ghost Bat aircraft. Chipman underscored the importance of maximizing efficiency amid budget constraints, stressing the need for sustained investment in defence. Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the criticality of maintaining fleet competitiveness through continuous funding. Chipman also addressed workforce challenges, emphasizing the need to address skill gaps and streamline recruitment processes. Additionally, Lt. Gen. John Frewen discussed a new role within the Defence Department, highlighting responsibilities in logistics support and force generation in the space and cyber domains.

DVA collaborates with health providers and other organisations to deliver services and benefits for veterans and families. We do our best to assist veterans and families to navigate these benefits for their health and wellbeing.

We’ve heard from veterans that some third-party organisations and providers are contacting them directly. These organisations might have the word ’veteran’ in their business name or when describing their services, and use what’s called ‘direct marketing’ tactics. This includes contacting veterans by phone, email, on social media and even in person. Sometimes they might even suggest they are ‘DVA sponsored’ or contacting you on behalf of DVA.

This type of marketing is a highly targeted form of advertising that can look like you might be clicking on a link to get more information or enter a competition. However, you may actually be consenting to share or store your personal details on a data base.

For veterans who are targeted, direct marketing by its nature can solicit feelings of confusion and concerns about privacy. Veterans might wonder, how did they get my number – how do they know I am a veteran – does DVA fund the services they are offering?

You’re not alone if you’ve experienced uninvited telephone calls, junk pamphlets filling your letterbox, or junk emails that are cluttering your email inbox. Maybe you’ve seen an influx of ‘sponsored’ posts or spam messages across your social media accounts?

Health and wellness is a multi-billion-dollar industry in Australia. So, it’s no surprise that direct marketing is a popular tactic used by third-party organisations and providers to connect with existing, and attract new, veteran clients.

While direct marketing is not illegal, all consumers, including veterans, do have rights. There are some tactics that you can use to protect your information from direct marketers, which are important to know:

• If you aren’t sure how someone got your contact information – ask them, they have to tell you.
• Did you know that if a potential provider cold calls you, they must hang up if you ask them to?
• Regardless of how you’ve been contacted or how information is relayed, it is against the law for businesses to mislead consumers. This includes suggesting contact has been made on behalf of DVA. It makes no difference if they ‘intended’ to mislead you or not.
• Did you know you might be giving consent if you click on an image or links on social media, giving others access to your personal information such as your email address, phone number, as well as your location, even your likes and interests?
• If you don’t know who has contacted you, don’t share your personal information or discuss your health and wellness needs, regardless of whether it is over the phone, online or even in person.
• DVA will never refer you to or send you links to a provider or organisation without your consent.

Always be careful not to share your personal information with people you don’t know. If you have health concerns, the best person to talk to is your GP who can refer you to seek support and care from other health professionals. Your GP is the only one who can refer you to an allied-health provider to seek treatment for through your Veteran Card.

To learn more about Veteran Card entitlements and about DVA-funded health services, you should visit the DVA website or call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is Australia’s national competition, consumer, fair-trading and product safety regulator. Visit www.accc.gov.au to find out more about your rights as a consumer. If you have been scammed, we encourage you to report the scam to Scamwatch.

THE expression “May you live in interesting times” is often attributed to ancient Chinese philosophy, though this may not be strictly so.

One alternate view suggests it was British MP Austen Chamberlain whose Prime Minister brother Neville’s gullibility over German assurances led Britain into interesting times in 1939.

Last week China’s air force certainly created interesting times for an RAN Seahawk helicopter crew operating off HMAS Hobart in international waters in the Yellow Sea.

A Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jet released flares into the helicopter flight path, an act described as unsafe behaviour endangering the aircraft and crew.

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Interesting times a challenge for Australia | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Amidst tensions in the South China Sea, the US Navy reported an encounter involving its destroyer, the USS Halsey, exercising navigational rights near the Paracel Islands, an archipelago at the centre of territorial disputes involving multiple nations.

China’s military responded by stating it had issued a warning to the US Navy destroyer in the contested waters. The USS Halsey was reportedly sailing near the Paracel Islands when the incident occurred.

According to a spokesperson for China’s military, naval and air forces were deployed to track and monitor the USS Halsey, with a warning issued to deter its presence. The statement emphasized that such actions infringed upon China’s sovereignty and security.

The People’s Liberation Army criticized the US, labelling it as the “source of security risks” and framing the incident as evidence of America’s dominance in navigation and militarization within the South China Sea.

In response, the US Navy defended its actions, asserting the USS Halsey’s exercise of navigational rights and freedoms in the area near the Paracel Islands. It clarified that following the operation, the destroyer departed from the disputed territory, continuing its operations in the South China Sea.

Furthermore, the US Navy condemned what it described as China’s “unlawful and expansive” maritime claims in the region, highlighting the threat they pose to freedom of navigation. These claims have been contested by several nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In a significant ruling in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Beijing’s claims, citing a lack of basis in international law.