ED: This Documentary runs for 48 minutes

Only five years after the end of WW2, the major nations of the world are once again up in arms. A global UN coalition and an emerging Chinese juggernaut are fighting it out in a war that will see both sides approach the brink of victory – and defeat.

I need assistance from our members. I have been working behind the scenes to locate two individuals, but unfortunately, I have drawn a blank with my contacts. So now I’m turning to you in the hope that someone can help.

First, I am trying to locate a family member of the late Lt. Col. Jim Bourke (Ret.). Jim Bourke was the founder of the group Operation Aussies Home. Susan Essex-Clark has some items that should be returned to his family. If you have any contact with Jim’s family, please email me at [email protected]

Secondly, I need to get in touch with Bob Breen, author of First to Fight. We believe he may be able to assist Luke Johnston from Vietnam Heritage with information about the 1966 Operation Rolling Stone. If you have contact with Bob Breen, could you please ask him to reach out to me at [email protected]

Thank you for your help.

Ray Payne OAM

[email protected]

In Australia, the debate over nuclear energy continues to intensify, with opposition from Labor, Greens, and Teals raising questions about the real motivations behind their stance. Critics argue that these groups’ resistance to nuclear power isn’t grounded in environmental concerns but rather in protecting the interests of billionaires and union-controlled superannuation funds invested heavily in renewable energy.

Renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines are often championed as the future of clean energy. However, their lifecycle is significantly shorter than nuclear power. Solar panels and wind turbines typically require replacement every 15–20 years, creating a consistent demand for new installations. This built-in obsolescence ensures a perpetual revenue stream for corporations and billionaire investors, many of whom have positioned themselves as leaders in the renewable sector.

By contrast, nuclear power plants have operational lifespans of 60–80 years, with potential extensions beyond that through technological advancements and refurbishments. Once established, nuclear plants provide stable, reliable, and cost-effective electricity, with minimal need for ongoing replacement or reinvestment.

Despite claims that renewables are becoming cheaper, much of their true cost is obscured. Subsidies and off-budget expenses, such as infrastructure upgrades and grid stabilization costs, are often omitted from public discussions. When these hidden costs are factored in, nuclear power emerges as a more affordable and sustainable option over the long term. Unlike renewables, nuclear doesn’t rely on weather conditions, offering consistent energy output around the clock.

Union-managed superannuation funds have poured billions into renewable energy projects, creating a strong financial incentive for unions and, by extension, the Labor Party to resist any policy shift toward nuclear power. These investments ensure that unions benefit from the renewable energy boom, even as Australians bear the burden of rising electricity prices and an unreliable power grid.

Australia is already experiencing the consequences of an over-reliance on renewables. The intermittent and unreliable nature of solar and wind energy has led to higher electricity prices and frequent supply shortages. Despite this, Labor, Greens, and Teals continue to oppose lifting the nuclear ban, effectively locking Australia into what critics describe as the world’s most expensive renewable energy experiment.

Allowing nuclear power in Australia could revolutionize the energy landscape. With fewer exceptions, nuclear could render most renewables redundant once an honest cost comparison is made. However, entrenched financial interests and political alliances are preventing this shift, condemning the country to an uncertain energy future.

If Australia is to achieve energy security and affordability, policymakers must prioritize the long-term benefits of nuclear power over the short-term gains of renewable investments. Ending the ban on nuclear energy is not just a matter of practicality—it’s essential for ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy future.

The Australian Army and Papua New Guinea Defence Force are partnering for Exercise Wantok Warrior 2024, an annual training exercise in PNG to enhance our longstanding relationship. ADF members, primarily from the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade, are training with their PNGDF counterparts in Wewak to conduct infantry focused combined arms assault serials using air-mobile and amphibious assets. Wantok Warrior is a longstanding exercise and continues to build shared understanding, professionalism, leadership, discipline and military capability.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has supported the Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) fourth maritime surveillance operation of 2024, Operation Kuru Kuru. ADF support to Op Kuru Kuru includes the deployment of a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan from 35 Squadron and supporting personnel to Suva, Fiji to join Fiji and our Pacific partners conducting maritime surveillance of Fiji’s exclusive economic zone. ADF support to Op Kuru Kuru is under the banner of Operation Solania, the ADF contribution to maritime surveillance within the Pacific region. Australia is committed to continuing to work with our Pacific family against the threat to territorial sovereignty and economic development caused by illegal exploitation of fisheries and natural resources in their exclusive economic zones.

It is the late afternoon of August 18, 1966. Within the next few hours D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, will be involved in Australia’s most brutal day of fighting in the Vietnam War, in what will be known as the Battle of Long Tan. The Battle of Long Tan will see approximately 108 young men of D Company in the fight of their lives against over 2,500 battle hardened Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. 11 platoon in particular will experience a multitude of human wave attacks on a scale that rocks them to their very core. Today we take a look at the key events of this battle and attempt to take you on a journey as we shine a light on one of Australia’s most important days in military history.