With potential conflict brewing in the region, Ben Packham, The Australian’s renowned Foreign Affairs and Defence correspondent, unravels the $7.8 billion lethal weapon load-out that will keep Australia safe.
Veteran journalist Erin Molan, daughter of the late Major General and NSW Senator Jim Molan, is issuing a stark challenge to Australian politics: take national security seriously and stop treating the public as naive bystanders.
In an era where national security reigns as the paramount responsibility of any government, the escalating threats demand urgent attention. Yet, amidst mounting challenges and fleeting opportunities in the rapidly transforming global and Indo-Pacific landscape, the Australian government’s lack of border security is glaring.
Molan’s call resonates with many who recognize the urgent need for a coherent national security strategy. She highlights the failures of successive governments in adequately addressing these concerns, emphasizing that safety should precede all other considerations. She criticizes policymakers’ disregard for the deteriorating global balance of power, a situation exacerbated by an ailing United States.
Drawing from her father’s advocacy for a national security strategy, Molan exposes the government’s inadequacy in preparedness for looming threats. She points out the nation’s vulnerabilities, including defence capabilities and fuel supply, underscoring the dire state of affairs despite official reassurances.
Molan’s frustration is palpable as she recounts her father’s uphill battle to garner support for a comprehensive strategy. She laments the ignorance and negligence of those in power, fuelling her anger and determination to push for change.
Acknowledging recent efforts such as the Defence Strategic Review, Molan insists on further improvements. She stresses the need for a comprehensive and coordinated national security strategy akin to the United States’ model, emphasizing Australia’s historical resilience in the face of adversity.
However, Molan warns against complacency, highlighting the disconnect between political rhetoric and the harsh realities faced by Australians. She cautions that unless both policymakers and the public confront these challenges head-on, Australia risks drifting into a perilous future, relinquishing control over its destiny.
The consequences of inaction are grave, with long-term national security at stake. Molan urges immediate action to position Australia to navigate the seismic shifts reshaping the global landscape.
Ultimately, Molan underscores the importance of aligning individual and national interests, urging Australians to demand accountability and foresight from their leaders. Failure to heed this call risks squandering opportunities and imperilling the nation’s future.
A senior member of Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has indicated that a crucial vote on Sweden’s NATO membership could take place as soon as Monday, potentially ending over 18 months of delays by the nationalist government, much to the frustration of Hungary’s allies.
In a letter addressed to the parliament’s speaker on Tuesday, Máté Kocsis, the head of the Fidesz caucus, formally requested the scheduling of a vote for the first day of the upcoming spring session, commencing on Monday.
Kocsis affirmed Fidesz’s intention to support Sweden’s entry into the trans-Atlantic military alliance, marking a departure from their previous stance of blocking such a vote.
Among NATO’s 31 member states, Hungary stands as the sole nation yet to ratify Sweden’s bid. The Hungarian government, under increasing pressure, has delayed the decision for over a year and a half, aware that any new addition to the alliance necessitates unanimous approval.
ED: The following was submitted by Brian Hurlock
It is not my place to be proselytising on behalf of a group just because I have decided to support them! I have no right nor intention to so do!
But as I’ve explained previously, I’ve known Gary Johns as a fellow Member of a variety of organisations for social good, over a period of about 30 years, and I consider him as someone I can genuinely claim to be a friend!
This new organisation he has helped to form with a group of other high achieving Australians, both Aborigine and non-Aborigine, is on the right path in my opinion!
Nothing can guarantee it, of course, but knowing Gary’s great achievements, and his qualities, his practical approach to problems, his ability to DO things, and to cut to the things that matter; plus his ability to communicate complex issues in plain, succinct, direct, common-sense language, have me confident this new NGO will be capable of actually achieving things where many others have failed!
Anyway, that’s why I onforward this latest from Gary! You might have an interest, you might not! Entirely your choice! But there is also the chance you might have someone in your family who you think might have an interest; or perhaps one of the offsprings or Grandchildren might NEED to see a different approach from the propaganda which has been stuffed into them by the totally biased (against Australia!) Education (sic) systems in our Nation?
Anyway, just doing what little bit I can still do at this late stage of my life, for the GOOD of Australia, NOT to keep the divisive race-based garbage going as we’ve been fed over recent decades! To change the policy direction, we’ve been on as younger generations are taught to hate their Nation and our Nation-building pioneers, rather than respecting them for what they achieved and handed on to us – Aborigine and non-Aborigine together!
In a significant move set to reshape the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), plans are underway to more than double the size of its surface fleet. This initiative stems from an independent analysis commissioned in response to the Defence Strategic Review.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy have highlighted the urgency emphasized in the independent analysis. It pointed out that the current surface combatant fleet is the oldest in the Navy’s history, necessitating immediate action to enhance capabilities in air defence, long-range strike, presence, and anti-submarine warfare.
Addressing these concerns, the future surface combatant fleet of the Navy is slated for substantial expansion, reaching a total of 26 major surface combatants. This fleet composition will include:
- Three Hobart Class air warfare destroyers, boasting upgraded air defence and strike capabilities.
- Six Hunter Class frigates, aimed at bolstering undersea warfare and strike capabilities.
- Eleven new general-purpose frigates, designed to offer maritime and land strike, air defence, and escort capabilities.
- Six new large optionally crewed surface vessels (LOSVs), significantly enhancing the Navy’s long-range strike capacity.
- Decommissioning two of the oldest ships among the remaining six Anzac Class frigates, in accordance with their planned service life.
Minister Richard Marles emphasized, “The enhanced lethality of the surface combatant fleet will ensure that the Navy is optimized for operations in both current and future environments. This optimization is underpinned by the thorough assessment conducted by the independent analysis team.”
Leonard Beadell OAM, BEM, FIEMS. (21 April 1923 – 12 May 1995) was a surveyor, road builder, bushman, artist and author, responsible for constructing over 6,000 km (3,700 mi) of roads and opening up isolated desert areas – some 2.5 million square kilometres (970 thousand square miles) – of central Australia from 1947 to 1963. Born in West Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Beadell is sometimes called “the last true Australian explorer”.
Reproduced courtesy of the Corryong Courier
Three veterans who have firsthand experience with conflict have united with a noble cause: to kayak the entirety of the Murray River, raising awareness for Soldier On and MatesHeroHelp, two charitable organizations dedicated to supporting both current and former Defence personnel.
Known as ‘Old Vets Stomping’, the team consists of Ross Boyd and Ian Errington, veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, accompanied by their dedicated support member, Tony Turner. Commencing their 2,400-kilometre journey from Bringenbrong on February 14th, their ultimate destination lies at the Southern Ocean in South Australia.
With over a century of combined army service, ‘Old Vets Stomping’ has embarked on numerous challenging endeavours post-retirement. These include traversing iconic trails like Kokoda (96 kilometers), the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory, Spain’s Camino de Santiago, South Australia’s Heysen Trail, the path to Mount Everest Base Camp, and Tasmania’s Overland Track. Their collective efforts have raised upwards of $25,000 for charitable causes.
Despite limited kayaking experience, the team underwent rigorous training in Brisbane and the Gold Coast last year to ensure they could safely undertake this ambitious journey. Along the way, they plan to halt at various towns and settlements along the Murray River, engaging with locals to spread awareness and garner support.
Stuart Spratt, owner of a café in Corryong, has been instrumental in facilitating fundraising connections in the North East. Additionally, he has organized walks from Lake Hume to Corryong for Soldier On, further amplifying their cause.
Beyond raising funds, ‘Old Vets Stomping’ aims to inspire younger war veterans to engage with organizations like the RSL (Returned and Services League) or other service clubs, thereby alleviating the burden on aging memberships. They intend to converse with RSL branches during their journey, highlighting the potential of this underutilized resource.
All endeavors undertaken by ‘Old Vets Stomping’ have been self-funded, with donations from supportive family and friends enabling the purchase of two expedition kayaks. Following the completion of their journey, these kayaks will be donated to MatesHeroHelp, perpetuating their commitment to supporting fellow veterans.
Visit the Supporting ADF Veterans GoFundMe page to support the cause.
A message from the Violet Town RSL Sub-Branch
An impressive mural representing women who served in, or supported, Australia’s and allied defence forces in times of war has been unveiled at the Violet Town RSL Sub-branch in Northeast Victoria.
It is the largest mural in Australia dedicated to honouring all women’s contribution to war. Painted by recognised mural artist Tim Bowtell, the largely black and white artwork tells the story of local women from the Violet Town area who served, but set in the context of Australian women’s service in all military conflicts.
The large mural is 17 metres long and nearly 2 metres high, and is located next to the town’s Boer War Memorial in Cowslip Street, just off the busy Hume Highway linking Melbourne and Sydney.
The RSL project to build the mural, which extended over several years, highlighted that while there were about 20 local women who had been identified as having served in the Army, Navy, Air Force or on the home front, they served only during the First and Second World Wars.
The project team was keen to create a mural that symbolically represented those who served across the spectrum – from the Boer War to the present – as well as those who helped on the home front.
The mural covers the major areas of conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries, and shows portraits of local women and other women, representing those who played their part. Other features are women at work in factories highlighting work on the home front, and high ranking officers, representing the rise of women in the ranks of military services. Storyboards highlight the different organisations which women joined and the roles they played.
The mural will become part of Victoria’s military history trail, extending from Seymour northward. The Violet Town RSL Sub-branch is proud that the RSL is recognising the women of the district as well as the men, as Australian women have been able to serve in all combat roles since 2016.
In a unified statement, Simon Birmingham, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Hastie, the Shadow Minister for Defence, and David Fawcett, the Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, have issued a clear ultimatum.
“The Albanese government must promptly elucidate its reasons for disregarding new evidence and direct Defence to halt the decommissioning of Australia’s MRH-90 Taipan helicopters,” the joint declaration asserted.
“Labor has offered various justifications for Australia’s inability to supply the Taipans to Ukraine, including assertions that it’s too late in the dismantling process to fulfill the request, concerns about the safety of the aircraft, and doubts about their suitability due to low availability.
“However, evidence presented during Senate estimates on February 14th contradicts these claims, revealing that the Taipans are indeed safe, some helicopters have not been extensively stripped, and our close allies in New Zealand demonstrate the successful operation of a reliable fleet.
“This evidence suggests that it may still be possible to pause the dismantling process and provide the helicopters to Ukraine, aligning with Ukraine’s request and offers of assistance from our allies.
“Despite the debunking of Labor’s narrative, Defence officials, during the hearing, were unable to identify who within the department provided the advice.
“What we are witnessing is a dysfunctional and confused government, unaware that the helicopters could potentially be supplied to Ukraine and lacking the resolve to direct Defence to reconsider its approach.
“The opposition urges the government to acknowledge that it’s not too late to halt the dismantling of some remaining Taipans and to consult with European allies and industry partners to explore the feasibility of meeting Ukraine’s request.”
The joint statement condemned the decision to decommission the helicopters as emblematic of weak leadership, indecisiveness, and a lack of accountability within the federal government.
The ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet was initially grounded late last year following a series of accidents. A helicopter crashed during Exercise Talisman Sabre in July 2023, another ditched during a training exercise in March 2023, flying operations were suspended in June 2021, and a tail rotor problem was identified in 2019.
Efforts by NATO Helicopter Industries to find buyers, including a request from Ukraine in December 2023, were unsuccessful.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Ukraine but explained that the Taipans were not suitable for the conflict Ukraine is facing.