Failure to act on defence leadership issues

IN 2017 at the National Press Club, Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles declared, “Partisanship in the area of defence strikes me as indulgent and ultimately a little contrived”.

He added, “It ought not be how we do business”.

On 17 April in the same location he declared, “The Liberals were a defence disaster.

“When the Albanese Government came to office we inherited a mess.

“The Liberals were one of the worst defence governments in our nation’s history at a time when Australia could least afford it.”

Partisan, indulgent and contrived.

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Failure to act on defence leadership issues | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Australian Army’s Landing Craft

The Australian Army and two prominent companies have inked a memorandum of understanding, signalling their joint commitment to bolstering the army’s amphibious capabilities centred around BMT’s CAIMEN Large vessel.

In this collaboration, DNV will lend its expertise to BMT, customizing the CAIMEN Large to precisely match the requirements of the Australian Army. This strategic alignment aims to mitigate technical risks and minimize any disruptions to scheduling.

The CAIMEN has been meticulously engineered by BMT to facilitate the direct transport of hefty rolling and cargo payloads to various terrains such as beaches, hard standings, or ports. Notably, it boasts the versatility to undertake international voyages and navigate challenging open sea conditions.

This enhanced capability aligns seamlessly with the Australian Defence Force’s renewed emphasis on littoral operations, as highlighted in a recent statement. Graeme Nayler, BMT’s regional managing director for APAC, expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to yield a ship design that prioritizes risk management.

By teaming up with DNV, BMT gains access to unparalleled expertise in certification and technical advisory services. This ensures that their designs adhere to rigorous standards and significantly contribute to Australia’s defence strategy. Nayler emphasized the potential of this collaboration to deliver heightened operational capabilities to the Australian Army.

Tim Holt, DNV’s area manager for maritime, echoed Nayler’s sentiments, expressing excitement about the opportunity to collaborate with BMT on such a crucial initiative. He stressed the importance of embedding the highest design standards into the CAIMEN Large from the outset, underscoring their joint commitment to providing a future-ready defence capability.

 

2024 Australian Defence Export Catalogue

The unveiling of the 2024 Australian Defence Export Catalogue heralds a milestone, showcasing an impressive array of offerings from over 300 Australian defence industry enterprises, marking a significant 20% surge from its predecessor. Within its pages lie a testament to Australia’s prowess in defence technology, featuring a diverse range of equipment, including surplus assets from the Australian Defence Force, such as the esteemed Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) and the robust Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle.

Of particular note is the recent pivotal contract inked by the Australian Government with Thales Australia, amounting to a substantial $160 million agreement. This deal aims to procure an additional 78 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the Australian Defence Force’s arsenal. Manufactured in the heart of Bendigo, Victoria, these Bushmasters uphold Australia’s commitment to domestic production excellence, with the inaugural batch slated for delivery in the anticipated year of 2024.

The significance of exporting Australia’s defence technology and capability to global markets cannot be overstated, resonating deeply with the core objectives outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy. These armoured vehicles represent more than mere machinery; they symbolize a tangible manifestation of Australia’s commitment to bolstering national security and fortifying its position as a formidable player in the realm of defence exports.

Australian-Defence-Export-Catalogue-10042024.pdf

Queensland Premier Steven Miles Acknowledges Likely Defeat in Upcoming Election

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has acknowledged the strong possibility of being ousted from power in the forthcoming October 2024 election. This admission follows closely on the heels of the parliament’s recent passage of legislation committing Queensland to attaining 75 percent renewable energy by 2035.

Taking the reins from Annastacia Palaszczuk in December 2023, Miles, a member of the Labor party’s far-left faction, faces an uphill battle according to recent polling. A YouGov survey indicates Labor trailing behind the Liberal National Party (LNP) by a margin of 44 to 56.

Addressing this polling data, Mr. Miles conceded the likelihood of losing his position as premier, stating, “It is likely, very likely” that David Crisafulli of the LNP will assume the role. This statement, as reported by the Courier Mail, underscores the sobering reality of the electoral landscape.

Despite the passage of ambitious emissions reduction targets, Mr. Miles emphasized the importance of Crisafulli presenting a viable plan to meet these objectives. He noted Crisafulli’s initial opposition to the plan while urging him to outline concrete strategies for achieving the 75 percent reduction target in emissions, to which he has lent his support.

In navigating the complex terrain of energy policy and electoral dynamics, both candidates are tasked with demonstrating their commitment to addressing Queensland’s environmental challenges while balancing economic considerations.

7th NVA Division Remains-Recovery

Ceremony commemorating the recovery of 20 sets of remains of 7th NVA Division soldiers – Battle of Balmoral May 1968.

Battle of Balmoral May 1968 – 7th NVA Division Remains-Recovery: Friday 26 April 2024.

The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam – Andrew Goledzinowski, the Defence Attache – Group Captain Michael Jensen, the Assistant Defence Attache – Lieutenant Commander David Ngothanh, and the Administrative Assistant WO2 Duncan Reid attended the remains-recovery ceremonies in Chòi Dúng hamlet of Bình Dương Province on Friday 26 April 2024. 3RAR Vietnam veteran (Coral and Balmoral) John Bryant – wearing light grey pants and white shirt with tie, and Luke Johnston (son of a 3RAR veteran and a Vietnam resident – seen offering incense) also participated in the ceremonies.

Regards, Ernie Chamberlain

Ceremony for the Recovery of NVA Remains – Battle of Balmoral May 1968

Hi Ray (FRONTLINE), I’m sure that you have had a busy ANZAC Day.  See below an “update” on the recovery of NVA remains from the Battle of Balmoral (May 1968):

Ceremony for the Recovery of Vietnamese Remains – Battle of Balmoral, May 1968.

Tomorrow – 26 April 2024, a Vietnamese ceremony (ie: lễ truy điệu ) will be held in Bình Dưỡng Province (forty kilometres north-east of Hồ Chí Minh City) to commemorate the  recovery of the remains of NVA soldiers who fell in the Battle of Balmoral (ie Battle of Đồng Tràm). Australian Embassy officials – including the Australian Defence Attache (Hà Nội) Group Captain Michael Jensen, will attend the ceremony. Australian 3 RAR Vietnam Veteran 77 year-old John Bryant has assisted in the recovery of the remains – for background, including photographs, see: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-25/vietnam-war-veteran-returns-to-help-uncover-mass-graves/103766062 – including photographs of veteran John Bryant, recovery activities, and recovered NVA artefacts (see photograph inserted below).

Regards, Ernie Chamberlain

The One Percenters 

The One Percenters. Your perspective on this piece may change based on your actual age……

99% of people born between 1930 and 1946 (GLOBALLY) are now deceased…

If you were born in this time span, your ages range between 77 and 93 years old (a 16-year-age span) and you are one of the rare surviving one-percenters.

You are the smallest group of children born since the early 1900s.

You are the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who can remember the winds of war and the impact of a world at war that rattled the structure of our daily lives for years.

You are the last to remember ration books for everything from tea to sugar to shoes. You saved tin foil and poured fried meat fat into cans.

You can remember milk being delivered to your house early in the morning and placed in the “milk box” at the front door. Discipline was enforced by parents and teachers.

You are the last generation who spent childhood without television and instead, you “imagined” what you heard on the radio. With no TV, you spent your childhood “playing outside”. There was no city playground for kids. The lack of television in your early years meant that you had little real understanding of what the world was like. We got “black-and-white” TV in the late 50s that had 3 stations and no remote.

Telephones (if you had one) were one to a house and hung on the wall in the kitchen (who cares about privacy). Computers were called calculators; they were hand-cranked. Typewriters were driven by pounding fingers, throwing the carriage, and changing the ribbon. INTERNET and GOOGLE were words that did not exist.

Newspapers and magazines were written for adults and your dad would give you the comic pages after he read the news. The news was broadcast on your radio in the evening. The radio network gradually expanded from 3 stations to thousands.

New highways would bring jobs and mobility. Most highways were 2 lanes and there were no Motorways. You went downtown to shop. You walked to school.

Your parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war, and they threw themselves into working hard to make a living for their families.

You weren’t neglected, but you weren’t today’s all-consuming family focus. They were glad you played by yourselves. They were busy discovering the postwar world. You entered a world of overflowing plenty and opportunity; a world where you were welcomed, enjoyed yourselves. You felt secure in your future, although the depression and poverty were deeply remembered.

Polio was still a crippler. Everyone knew someone who had it.

You are the last generation to experience an interlude when there were no threats to our country. World War 2 was over and the cold war, terrorism, global warming, and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life. Only your generation can remember a time after WW2 when our world was secure and full of bright promise and plenty. You grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better.

More than 99% of you are retired now, and you should feel privileged to have “lived in the best of times!” If you have already reached the age of 77-years-old, you have outlived 99% of all the other people on this planet. You are a 1% ‘er!

 

The All NEW Blacksnake Super A-10 Warthog Just SHOCKED The World!

The geopolitical situation in the world is rapidly heating up. The conflict in Syria is still raging, it exploded almost in the very center of Europe when a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine began, then erupted in Gaza between Palestinians and Israelis, the Houthis are mercilessly shelling merchant ships in the Red Sea, blocking the Suez Canal, China is carnivorous towards Taiwan. In such a situation, you need to be armed to the teeth. In such a situation, every piece of weaponry matters. The United States has begun a major modernization of the A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft.