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Defence funding is set to experience a significant delay in substantial increases, with an anticipated shortfall of 5000 personnel. While an additional $5.7 billion is earmarked for the upcoming years, the majority, $3.8 billion, won’t be accessible until 2027-28. Despite government alerts regarding Australia’s strategic challenges, defence expenditure will gradually climb to $67.4 billion by 2027-28, reaching 2.12% of GDP.

Committing to bolstering defence capabilities, the government has pledged $50.3 billion in supplementary funding by 2033-34, with the aim of surpassing $100 billion in annual expenditure, equivalent to 2.3% of GDP.

Concurrently, Australia intends to amplify its assistance for overseas conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East, with an additional $144 million allocated over a two-year period. This includes furnishing military equipment to Ukraine and extending duty-free access to bolster its economy until July 2026.

The Budget has outlined several initiatives for the 2024-25 fiscal year, including:

• Setting aside $17.5 million to institute a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, enhancing parliamentary oversight and comprehension of Defence’s pivotal role in navigating Australia’s complex strategic landscape.
• Committing $166.2 million over the span of five years starting from 2023-24 in grants to fortify small and medium-sized businesses and local defence industries, integral components of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
• Dedication of $28 million spanning from 2024-25 to 2027-28 for the implementation of reforms pursuant to the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, aimed at fostering industry engagement and streamlining trade between AUKUS partners.
• Investing $81.9 million into the defence industry to fortify critical job roles, including provisions for scholarships, enticing and enrolling apprentices via the Shipbuilding Employment Pathways Initiative, support for supply chains, and augmenting the defence industrial workforce.
• Allocating $232.3 million for international military support and assistance endeavours from 2023-24 to 2024-25, including an additional $144.3 million earmarked for military support to Ukraine.

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, underscored, “In revitalising the IIP, the Government is delivering the capabilities necessary for the ADF to safeguard Australians, while concurrently strengthening our sovereign defence industry to cultivate jobs and nurture a future shaped by Australia.”

ED: My apology for posting this the other day without the video, thanks to those who let me know.

Leading organisations in the energy space have taken a single minded approach to the energy transition. They view weather dependent renewables as the sole option for a cleaner grid. This unwillingness to look at all alternatives to fossil fuels has led to gaps in the scientific reasoning. Experts Helen Cook, Chris Uhlmann, Adi Paterson and Aidan Morrison spoke at a recent CIS lunch where they laid out a clear path forward for nuclear energy. They looked at what Australia can learn from other countries’ energy transition. And they answered some of the most pressing questions in the nuclear debate: how long and how much? This isn’t just about lifting bans or debating renewables; it’s about envisioning a feasible, practical path to nuclear energy.

Army’s Aviation Command delivers aviation capability to support Army’s generation of land power and enable the integrated force in peace and war. Battlefield aviation is a critical capability that ensures the Integrated Force is connected, protected, lethal and enabled through the provision of tactical speed, reach, access and situational awareness. We are conducting essential training to ensure we are ready now, reinforcing our critical capabilities and introducing new capabilities to ensure we remain future ready.

STOP PRESS

David McBride, 60, pleaded guilty to stealing classified material and leaking it to journalists and faced sentencing today.

Justice David Mossop sentenced McBride to an aggregated five years and eight months in prison for three charges in the ACT Supreme Court today.

McBride will have a non-parole period of 27 months, meaning he’ll remain behind bars until at least August 2026.

David McBride, the individual responsible for disclosing classified military documents uncovering allegations of Australian soldiers’ war crimes in Afghanistan, awaits sentencing following his guilty plea.

McBride, a former military lawyer, admitted to stealing and leaking classified material to journalists. While the prosecution advocates for a minimum two-year prison sentence, arguing the severity of his actions, McBride’s defence asserts his actions were in the public interest, pleading for leniency.

Justice David Mossop of the ACT Supreme Court will deliver the verdict, weighing options ranging from imprisonment to community service.

During sentencing hearings, McBride’s barrister cited his impaired emotional well-being, attributing his decision to disclose the documents to PTSD and substance abuse issues. McBride believed he had a public duty to reveal the information.

Prosecutors countered, claiming McBride’s motivations shifted from personal vindication to challenging defence protocols and breaching legal obligations. They argued that despite allegations of top officials’ misconduct, McBride failed to pinpoint specific criminal activities in his disclosures.

The leaked documents triggered investigations, revealing information about 23 potential war crimes incidents involving the deaths of 39 Afghans. McBride’s defence contended that his actions aimed to expose perceived injustices and prevent undue investigations against soldiers.

As the verdict looms, McBride’s case raises crucial questions about the balance between national security, transparency, and individual conscience.

ED: I know there is a deal of interest from members in Nuclear, if you are interested this video runs for about 60 minutes and is worth watching.

Leading organisations in the energy space have taken a single minded approach to the energy transition. They view weather dependent renewables as the sole option for a cleaner grid. This unwillingness to look at all alternatives to fossil fuels has led to gaps in the scientific reasoning. Experts Helen Cook, Chris Uhlmann, Adi Paterson and Aidan Morrison spoke at a recent CIS lunch where they laid out a clear path forward for nuclear energy. They looked at what Australia can learn from other countries’ energy transition. And they answered some of the most pressing questions in the nuclear debate: how long and how much? This isn’t just about lifting bans or debating renewables; it’s about envisioning a feasible, practical path to nuclear energy.

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.

CLICK LINK to follow this Sky News story

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.