Australia’s disastrous indigenous voice referendum.

Quote from this Spectator UK article “Mr Albanese looks like setting back the cause his referendum was called to advance. He will leave all sides feeling rawer than when he took it up. Though conceived with good intentions, this has been a serious error of judgment; and, were I Australian, I’d feel angrier about the calling of this referendum than about any possible result.”

CLICK LINK read the Spectator article.

Australia’s disastrous indigenous voice referendum | The Spectator

1RAR 71-73 gathered on the Gold Coast

A great reunion of the 71-73 brothers mostly from A Coy yesterday at the Currumbin RSL. On the Gold Coast.  From the left John McCausland, Lindsay Wilson, Graeme Tucker, Ron Thompson, Colin Bolitho, Craig Youll, Fred Vanderlei, Rod Andrews, Mark (Stevo) Stephens, Daryl Bienke, Gene Pratt and Bob Wilton. The Currumbin RSL was a top venue, the management and staff ensuring we had a fantastic day.

Lot more to our involvement than Long Tan

DESPITE some perceptions, there were significant battles other than Long Tan involving Australian combat forces during this country’s decade long Vietnam military commitment.

Additionally, Australians were involved is such iconic US battles as Hue, simultaneously at Khe Sanh and later Hamburger Hill.

Australia’s Vietnam involvement began in July 1962 when 30 “military advisors” were sent to train and advise the Vietnamese Army.

It ended in June 1973 when the 27-strong Australian Embassy Guard Saigon was withdrawn.

Over 60,000 Australians from all three services served in Vietnam; 523 died as a result of the war and almost 2,400 were wounded.

CLICK LINK to continue reading.

Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Canadian Army Considers Retiring M113 TLAVs Despite Refurbishment Offer by Armatec Survivability

Murray Brewster of CBC News has reported that the Canadian Army is contemplating the retirement of numerous M113 Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles (TLAVs) this year. This move comes despite a refurbishment proposal presented by the Ontario-based private firm, Armatec Survivability, suggesting these carriers be repurposed for Ukraine.

From the total 140 M113 TLAVs in the army’s possession, 67 are currently set aside either for demilitarization or as spare parts due to their deteriorating state. The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) aims to phase these out in favour of the newer Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) in the coming years. While Armatec Survivability has put forth a plan to rejuvenate the redundant armoured vehicles, a definitive decision remains pending.

In the backdrop of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada has already made contributions to Ukraine in the form of tanks, ACSVs, and armoured vehicles, totalling an impressive $1.8 billion. According to Ty Curran, the DND’s deputy director general of international security, the proposal from Armatec is merely one among several they have received post the invasion.

As the DND details, aside from the 67 vehicles set for disposal, 30 of the remaining 73 operational TLAVs are retained in military storage. When deciding on equipment donations to Ukraine, Canada ensures that the hardware aligns with Ukrainian requirements and is sustainable for long-term use.

Ukraine’s armed forces are no strangers to the M113, having previously incorporated over 560 such vehicles from various nations. Moreover, countries like the United States and Australia are expressing interest in joining hands with Canada on the Armatec initiative to supply excess vehicles to Ukraine.

Currently, the Canadian government has earmarked up to $500 million specifically for military equipment donations to Ukraine this budget year, which may very well cover the costs of the proposed Armatec project.

Pensions and allowances to rise from 20 September.

22 September 2023

From 20 September 2023, some veterans and their families will receive an increase to their pension payments in line with increases to the cost of living. You don’t have to do anything to receive the increase, it will automatically be applied to your payment.

The first full payment at the new rates of pension will be payday 19 October 2023.The pension paid on payday 21 September 2023 is not affected as it covers pension entitlements for the fortnight to 18 September 2023.  The pension for payday 5 October covers entitlements for the period 19 September 2023 to 2 October 2023 and will be paid partly at the old rate and partly at the new rate.

The maximum rate of single service pension will rise by $32.70 to $1,096.70 per fortnight and the maximum rate for couples will increase by $24.70 to $826.70 per fortnight (each).

The Special Rate of Disability Compensation Payment (T&PI payment) will increase by $53.00 to $1,729.20 per fortnight. The Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate will increase by $28.60 to $933.20 per fortnight and the 100 per cent General Rate of Disability Compensation Payment will increase by $18.40 to $600.30 per fortnight.

The pension paid to war widow(er)s will increase by $33.80 to $1,116.30 per fortnight (including the energy supplement), while the ceiling rate of the income support supplement will rise to $331.40 per fortnight.

Certain benefits under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) will also increase. The weekly MRCA wholly dependent partner payment will increase by $16.90 to $558.15. This is paid fortnightly ($1116.30).

The indexation factor used to index pensions each March and September can be based on either the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) or Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). For 20 September 2023, the indexation was driven by PBLCI.

For more information on the new pension rates, call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).

New pension rates from 20 September 2023

SERVICE PENSION Old rate (fortnightly) New rate

(fortnightly)

Increase

(fortnightly)

Single person  $1,064.00  $1,096.70  $32.70
Couples (each)  $802.00  $826.70  $24.70
Single person – transitional  $887.60  $906.80  $19.20
Couples (each) – transitional  $716.10  $731.60  $15.50
WAR WIDOWS      
War widow(er)’s pension  $1,082.50  $1,116.30  $33.80
Income support supplement  $321.10  $331.40  $10.30
DISABILITY PENSION      
T&PI (Special rate)  $1,676.20  $1,729.20 $53.00
Intermediate rate  $1,111.30  $1,146.40  $35.10
EDA  $904.60  $933.20  $28.60
100 per cent  $581.90  $600.30  $18.40
10 per cent  $65.12  $66.96  $1.84
VETERAN PAYMENT      
Single Person $1,153.50 $1,189.70 $36.20
Couples (each) $899.30 $927.60 $28.30
MRCA*      
Wholly dependent partner payment $1,082.50 $1,116.30 $33.80
Special Rate Disability pension (SRDP) $1,676.20 $1,729.20 $53.00

 

These are the maximum rates of payment and include any Energy Supplement payable.

The first full payment at the new rates will be the payday 19 October 2023.

*Note that the MRCA payments in the bottom two rows are the fortnightly amounts, not the weekly amounts.

Bushmaster – The Australian Vehicle Saving Ukrainian Lives

Ukranian Forces have been praising this vehicle for months. It’s saved the lives of countless UAF soldiers and inflicted heavy casualties on the invading Russians. The Bushmaster, an Australian vehicle, has an interesting development beginning all the way back in 1994. Designed specifically to save the lives of it’s occupants, it’s a hugely impressive piece of kit. But how does it work? And why is it in Ukraine?

Australia’s Secret War – Tour of Duty – Full

Australians Special Forces units have the longest presence in Australia’s longest war. They have been operating there for over 10 year, but for all those 10 years what they do and how they do it had been kept largely secret until now. Here we join Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment the (SASR) along with their brothers in arms the Commmandos. The different force elements merge to make up rotation 16 of Australia’s special operation task group, a unique ban known throughout Afghanistan as Task Force 66.

Why the USS Gerald R. Ford Supercarrier Remains Unrivalled by China and Russia

The USS Gerald R. Ford stands as a titan amongst naval vessels, undisputedly holding the title of the most expensive and largest carrier ever to grace the oceans. This supercarrier, a behemoth of naval prowess, not only boasts state-of-the-art engineering but also an array of technological advancements that dwarf other ships in its class.

At the outset, the Gerald R. Ford was projected to cost around $13 billion in 2005. However, the ambitious scope of its features and innovations drove its final price tag up to a whopping $14 billion by 2009. Weighing in at an impressive displacement of approximately 112,000 short tons (or 100,000 metric tons), this supercarrier stretches 1,106 feet (337 meters) in length, has a waterline beam of 134 feet (41 meters), and its flight deck beam spans a considerable 256 feet (78 meters). It towers nearly 250 feet (76 meters) above the waterline, making it a formidable sight in any naval theatre.

The Gerald R. Ford’s superiority doesn’t end with its size. Its hangars and decks are home to a variety of advanced aircraft, including the stealthy F-35C Joint Strike Fighters, the formidable F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler electronic attack jets, and the E-2D Hawkeye airborne early-warning and control aircraft. Supporting these are assets like the C-2 Greyhound carrier onboard delivery (COD) planes, the versatile MH-60S Seahawk helicopters, the MQ-25 Stingray refuelling and intelligence drones, and a potential inclusion of a new long-range strike drone in the future.

To power this immense vessel and its technologies, the Gerald R. Ford employs advanced Bechtel A1B reactors, capable of producing an astonishing 600 megawatts of electricity. This power supports innovative systems such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear, both designed to enhance operational efficiency and safety on the flight deck.

However, what truly distinguishes the Gerald R. Ford from potential rivals is its self-defence and combat capabilities. Equipped with cutting-edge radar systems, missile launchers, and laser self-defence weapons, this carrier has defences specifically tailored to counter threats such as the hypersonic missiles developed by nations like China and Russia.

With the commissioning of the Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s fleet now boasts an impressive eleven active carriers, further reinforcing its unrivalled naval supremacy on the global stage. The sheer technological and strategic prowess of the Gerald R. Ford underlines why, for the foreseeable future, potential competitors like China and Russia will find it challenging to match the supercarrier’s capabilities and dominance.

 

Australian Army prepares for new M1A2 tanks with simulator contract.

Photo: An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a combined arms live-fire serial on Exercise Brolga Sprint 23 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo: LCPL Riley Blennerhassett

By Robert Dougherty – Defence Connect

Australian veteran-owned SME Global Defence Solutions has been engaged to manufacture a dozen container systems to house main battle tank simulators under a multi-million-dollar contract.

GDS, an Alkath Group company, will construct the deployable containers in Nowra, NSW, before they are fitted with M1A2 Abrams System Enhancement Program Version 3 (SEPv3) main battle tank immersive tactical trainers.

The first 20-foot 1C ISO container is scheduled for delivery in March 2024, while the complete 12 will be manufactured by January 2025.

Thomas Global Systems, an Australian avionics and mission-critical electronics manufacturer and prime system integrator, will install the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams simulation system to support the Australian Army’s acquisition of 75 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks under the $3.5 billion Land 907 Phase 2 project.

The trainers will train Australian Army tank crews before they accept the new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks by fully simulating an M1A2 tank environment with crew positions for gunner, driver, and an additional instructor station to enable system training control.

“Following the TGS approval of our design plans for the deployable container system in mid-August, our team has commenced manufacture,” GDS general manager Jeromy Bendall said.

“The modular Abram’s ITT is taking mission simulation to the field, allowing crews to prepare for actual operations while deployed, increasing efficiencies and mission outcomes.

“It represents the latest and greatest training capability for Australia’s upgraded tank force. Once complete, the 12 containerised ITTs will be deployed to defence bases around Australia.

“Securing the Abrams contract allows GDS to further solidify our position as leaders in sovereign manufacturing. We are proud to be producing tactical trainers for the Army’s most advanced capabilities while generating skilled employment opportunities in the Nowra region.

“Given the Abrams is extensively operated by the US and its allies around the world, the global Abrams supply chain is huge and represents AUKUS export, growth, and job opportunities for GDS as well as our Alkath Group sister companies Mellori Solutions and Resilience Logistic Solutions.”

GDS has previously collaborated with Saab Australia on JP 2060 Phase 3 to deliver a new generation of deployable health capability.

 

A Paper by Lindsay Hacket

ED: The following is a paper written by Lindsay Hacket a member of our Frontline Veterans Network. Lindsay posted the link in our comments, I have reposted it here. You will need a little time to read his paper.

The actual area of Australia with exclusive native title, non-exclusive native title, State and Territory Land Rights (given before the Native Title Act 1993 – see ALRC Report 126 of April 2015, page 92), and Claims in progress is just more than 75.8 percent. When the areas subject to Indigenous Land Use Agreements is added, the picture is worse.

See my paper at https://www.scribd.com/document/458064355/Aborigines-The-Constitution-and-the-Voice