DCD Comment

The newly enacted Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) will significantly increase the cost of SUVs, utes, and four-wheel drives, imposing an undue financial burden on Australian families. This legislation, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new vehicles, is effectively a punitive tax on popular family cars.

Despite claims that the NVES will promote low and zero-emissions vehicles, the law will penalize automotive dealers selling higher-emission vehicles while rewarding those who sell cleaner alternatives. The Federal government has allocated $85.5 million (US$56.4 million) to establish a regulatory body to monitor vehicle emissions data as part of the 2024-2025 budget.

Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, criticized the legislation, highlighting that it passed the Senate without any meaningful debate. According to Senator McKenzie, the refusal of the Labor party to allow second reading speeches and their blocking of attempts to refer the legislation to a Senate inquiry reflects a lack of transparency and democratic process.

Senator McKenzie voiced concerns that the NVES would add thousands of dollars to the cost of many popular SUVs, utes, and four-wheel drives. At a time when families are already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, this legislation will exacerbate their financial strain. She argued that this policy would also discourage families from upgrading to newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles, thereby hindering efforts to reduce transport emissions.

Furthermore, the Coalition cannot support a policy that unfairly targets the vehicles Australians prefer to drive. A more effective approach would be a technology-neutral strategy that promotes innovation and flexibility in achieving net zero emissions, rather than imposing restrictive and costly measures on consumers.

After a tragic crash in Japan last year that killed eight airmen, the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy V-22 Ospreys resumed flights in early March. Despite the green light, significant restrictions remain in place, limiting the aircraft to flying within 30 minutes of a suitable airfield. This restriction, mandated by the V-22 Joint Program Office, has forced services like the Navy to rely on older aircraft for some missions.

Naval Air Forces spokesperson Cmdr. Beth Teach confirmed the restriction, which has led the Navy to continue using the aging C-2A Greyhound fleet. The Marine Corps is working to return its 17 MV-22 squadrons to full capability through a phased approach focused on regaining basic flight proficiency and training.

The Joint Program Office is investigating the mechanical failure that caused the deadly crash and is working on long-term solutions, including addressing a recurring clutch issue known as “hard clutch engagement.” This problem has contributed to several incidents over the years. The office is testing a new prototype component to fix this issue.

Meanwhile, V-22 Ospreys continue to operate globally, albeit with restrictions, as efforts are made to extend the aircraft’s operational lifespan until at least 2055.

When it comes to the next generation of military vehicles, the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) stands out as the epitome of versatility, mobility, and resilience. This cutting-edge development is designed to replace the venerable M113, a longstanding workhorse on the battlefield, and to serve in combat for decades to come. The AMPV has been meticulously engineered to meet the demands of modern warfare, offering unparalleled strength and survivability. Let’s delve into the key features and innovations that make the AMPV a cornerstone of future military operations.

First and foremost, the AMPV is built with a modular design that allows it to be configured for a variety of roles on the battlefield. This includes versions equipped for mission command, medical evacuation, general purpose, mortar carrier, and combat engineer missions. This flexibility ensures that the AMPV can support a wide range of operational needs, making it an invaluable asset in diverse combat scenarios.

The vehicle’s mobility is another standout feature. Equipped with advanced suspension systems and powerful engines, the AMPV is capable of navigating challenging terrains with ease. This mobility ensures that troops can be transported quickly and efficiently, whether they are moving through urban environments, rugged landscapes, or over long distances.

Strength and survivability are at the core of the AMPV’s design. The vehicle is constructed with state-of-the-art armour materials that provide superior protection against a variety of threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small arms fire, and artillery shrapnel. Additionally, the AMPV incorporates advanced defensive systems and technologies designed to detect and neutralize threats before they can impact the vehicle.

In terms of operational readiness, the AMPV is equipped with the latest communication and situational awareness systems. These systems enable seamless coordination with other units and enhance the decision-making capabilities of commanders in the field. The integration of modern electronics and networked systems ensures that the AMPV remains at the forefront of technological advancements, capable of adapting to new threats and challenges as they emerge.

Moreover, the AMPV is designed with sustainability in mind. Its components are built to be easily maintainable and replaceable, ensuring that the vehicle remains operational with minimal downtime. This focus on maintenance efficiency is critical for ensuring the long-term durability and effectiveness of the AMPV in prolonged combat situations.

In conclusion, the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle represents a significant leap forward in military vehicle technology. Its blend of versatility, mobility, and strength ensures that it will be a reliable and indispensable asset on the battlefield for years to come. As the dynamics of warfare continue to evolve, the AMPV is well-positioned to meet the challenges of the future, providing unmatched support and protection to the troops it serves.

Russia’s protracted conflict in Ukraine is evolving into a broader, globally impactful struggle, with implications for the international order. Historically, dominant powers have shaped geopolitics, and the current multipolar world reflects this legacy despite the post-WWII dominance of the United States. Today, rising powers challenge this US-led order through “grey zone” warfare and alternative economic and strategic alliances.

China and Russia, leading this pushback, aim to alter the global status quo. China, driven by historical grievances, and Russia, entangled in Ukraine and supported by BRICS nations, seek to undermine US hegemony. The US, meanwhile, faces declining influence and internal challenges.

Hal Brands from Johns Hopkins University highlights this new “world war,” where alliances, including China, Iran, and North Korea, support Russia against Ukraine, framing it as a global conflict. Russia benefits from this network, receiving vital military and economic support. Conversely, the West’s unity in aiding Ukraine has galvanized opposing alliances, further intensifying global tensions.

This evolving landscape suggests a strategic shift, with nations like Australia needing to adapt. Australia must recognize the Indo-Pacific’s growing importance and build domestic resilience through “homeland economics” to navigate this multipolar world.

Australia faces a choice: remain a secondary power or embrace a more prominent, independent role amid great power competition. Policymakers must urgently address these challenges and opportunities to secure Australia’s future in this new global order.

Lee Kwan Yew the Singapore PM of the last half of the 20^th C stated that Australia would become The White Trash of Asia and as I look at the past his prediction is becoming a fact.

The present PM warns about “Wokeness” as a virus, watch this YouTube presentation.

As identified in this link WOKENESS is a Western Democracy virus that I have criticised for a few years as being a WEF movement accepted by the EU bureaucrats and now infecting Western Democracies.

I have had the tag “Wokeism is a tool of Marxism Socialism” attached to my emails for about a year, some have criticised me for inventing a word, but we all understand what the phrase means, and I have yet to have the statement debunked.

Bob Buick MM JP

Wokeism is a tool of Marxism Socialism

Between 1964 and 1972 most 20-year-old men had to register for National Service. Potential conscripts, better known as ‘Nashos’, were selected by a birthday lottery, where wooden marbles drawn from a barrel matched a secretly maintained birthday list. The prize? Two years of full-time service in the Australian Army.

I served in the Army from 1959 to 1980 in the Infantry retiring as a Warrant Office Class One, and I retired because of the creation of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) that included the civilising military law a fact introduced by the Hawke government in the mid-1980s.

I believe that this and other changes spawned the troubles experienced in Afghanistan when McBride stole secret documents and gave them to ABC, the catalyst for the Bretherton report on alleged war crimes. There is a report today that Army Senior Officers who were involved in policy doctrine and training policies adopted by our Special Forces refuse to accept responsibility for the alleged war crimes, so, I believe that these policies and doctrine are the reasons that our SF frontline combat warriors are now under scrutiny.

Applying civil law to the military has been a disaster for the members of the ADF when compared to my time in the services. The British and United States military have retained their specific law and regulations because they know that civil laws and justice in the military in not compatible with civil justice, there is no comparison. If you have never worn the boots you’d never understand.

I believe that abandoning the pre-ADF military service conditions has created toxic service conditions that could be the cause of the suicides in the ADF.

Those who served with me agree.

There needs to be a Royal Commission into the ADF, with terms of reference to include the civilisation of laws and regulation, command and leadership, and the comparison of the service conditions applied to the pre-1980s Australian Defence Forces, against those of the Australian Military Forces.

We need to demand transparency and integrity to protect our military warriors, not protect senior officers and politicians who endorse training policies and doctrine, as combatants are our most precious weapons of defence.

Robert (Bob) Buick MM JP

Diggers’ fury as commanders duck responsibility for war crimes, report warns

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Force chief General Angus Campbell. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

• EXCLUSIVE

By BEN PACKHAM

FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT

• 2:28PM MAY 15, 2024
• COMMENTS

The refusal of the nation’s military leaders to accept responsibility for war crimes in Afghanistan has generated “anger and bitter resentment” among serving personnel and veterans that will take years to overcome, an independent report has warned.

The Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel’s final report is due to be tabled in the Senate after Defence Minister Richard Marles quietly authorised its release six months after he received the document.

The report, obtained by The Australian, says the panel does not accept the Brereton inquiry’s finding that senior commanders should not be held accountable for the murders of 39 Afghans by up to 25 special forces soldiers.

It says there has been “an unmet need for Defence senior leadership to communicate to the serving and ex-serving ranks of the ADF that they collectively accept organisational responsibility and accountability for part of what went wrong in Afghanistan”.

“There is ongoing anger and bitter resentment amongst present and former members of the special forces, many of whom served with distinction in Afghanistan, that their senior officers have not publicly accepted some responsibility for policies or decisions that contributed to the misconduct, such as the overuse of special forces,” the panel warns.

Special Operations Task Group soldiers undergo training during the Afghanistan war. Picture: Corporal Chris Moore.

The report says the resentment among special forces soldiers was “expressed forcefully and repeatedly to the panel by Defence members of all ranks” during visits to SAS and 2nd Commando Regiment headquarters.

The anger in the Defence and veterans’ community over the issue will “likely to last for a long time”, the panel warns.

The panel led by former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Dr Vivienne Thom says commanders need to accept accountability to “prevent or mitigate any recurrence” of such crimes.

The report compares the failure of Defence’s senior leaders to accept accountability for war crimes with the actions of company CEOs who face dismissal and even criminal charges after major corporate collapses.

“In the private sector, major corporate failures result in both an organisational and individual responsibility,” the report says.

“Personal knowledge or direct involvement of the senior officers in the causes or behaviour that led to the corporate failure are not required.”

The report comes as Mr Marles sits on recommendations by outgoing Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell on the stripping of honours and awards for commanders for war crimes that occurred on their watch.

Australian Special Operations Task Group soldiers prepare to board a helicopter during the Afghanistan war. Picture: Defence

It says “substantial progress” has been made in addressing special forces cultural issues highlighted by Justice Paul Brereton in his report for the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force.

“While there are still occasions when individuals exhibit behaviours indicative of unhealthy exceptionalism, today the responses from the leadership appear to be rapid, clear and appropriate,” the report says.

But it warns there are still some signs of the “toxic competitiveness” between the SAS and 2nd Commando Regiments that Justice Brereton identified as a contributing factor, with “significant and forceful comments” by some soldiers on their rival regiments in interviews by the panel.

The Albanese government is yet to implement a Brereton inquiry recommendation to compensate the families of Afghans unlawfully killed by Australian Defence Force troops.

But the panel says it accepts the government faces difficulties in identifying, locating and paying those affected since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

BEN PACKHAM 

 FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT

Ben Packham is The Australian’s foreign affairs and defence correspondent. To contact him securely use the Signal App. See his Twitter bio for details…. Read 

Personnel from 7 Brigade of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) are currently engaged in a four-week training initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of the MantisX training system for Australian military use. The MantisX system is designed to enhance firearm proficiency and attaches to various firearms like pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Similar to dry fire training tools, it monitors each shot and generates useful data to enhance accuracy.

Utilizing a sensor affixed to the weapon, MantisX tracks barrel movement, trigger pull, and weapon stability, providing users with scores and barrel vectors for each shot, akin to the Weapon Training Simulation System. Warrant Officer Class Two Mark Biviano of Land Combat Faculty initially acquired a MantisX in 2016 to enhance his competitive pistol shooting skills and recognized its potential for military applications. In 2019, he conducted a proof-of-concept program with MantisX at 13 Brigade, noting the rapid improvement among users due to its immediate feedback mechanism.

Biviano’s initiative caught the attention of Jemma Coleman from the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), who acknowledged the system’s potential to enhance training effectiveness. Coleman highlighted the importance of considering human factors in weapon design and training, noting that existing trials often overlook such aspects.

The trial, commencing on April 22, involves soldiers from non-combat corps, combat corps, and infantry groups. It begins with baseline dry and live fire assessments, followed by a training program focusing on dry firing with MantisX feedback. Post-training, participants will undergo reassessment to gauge improvements in live fire abilities. Additionally, the trial incorporates high-speed motion capture to analyze body and weapon movements.

Funded through the LAND 159 weapons replacement program, the trial explores how dry fire training can mitigate the costs and resource requirements associated with live firing while still facilitating skill enhancement. Furthermore, it aims to investigate soldiers’ information processing and response mechanisms during room clearances, emphasizing the concept of “perception-action coupling.”