Tomorrow, December 7th marks the 82nd anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk, a pivotal event during World War II where Australian soldiers and Allied troops defended the strategically vital harbour town from German and Italian forces. This tribute explores the resilience, bravery, and significance of the defenders, known as the ‘Rats of Tobruk,’ and their role in thwarting the Axis powers’ advance through Egypt.

In January 1941, the 6th Australian Division captured Tobruk from the Italians, marking a crucial victory in the North African campaign. This success turned the town into a garrison for Australian and British forces, setting the stage for the subsequent siege. The term ‘Rats of Tobruk,’ initially coined as an insult by Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw, became a badge of honour for the besieged troops.

Tobruk’s strategic importance lay in its harbor, a critical supply route for the Allies. The Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, known as the ‘Tobruk Ferry’ service, played a vital role in maintaining the link to the outside world despite the constant threat of attacks on incoming ships. Holding Tobruk meant forcing the enemy to transport supplies overland, hindering their advance through Egypt.

From April to December 1941, Tobruk endured relentless ground assaults, shelling, and bombing by the Axis forces. The defenders, particularly the men of the 9th Division and the 18th Brigade of the 7th Division, exhibited unwavering determination, earning the moniker ‘Rats of Tobruk.’ The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the ‘scrap iron flotilla’ of the RAN contributed significantly to the town’s defence during this arduous period.

The Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, acting as the ‘Tobruk Ferry,’ faced significant challenges, with many ships lost or damaged during supply runs into Tobruk harbour. Despite these sacrifices, the Allies recognized the importance of holding Tobruk to prevent the enemy’s advance.

Evacuations of troops began in August 1941, with the 2/13 Battalion and two companies of the 2/15th Battalion remaining in place until the siege’s end in December. The 9th Division and attached troops, during their eight-month presence in Cyrenaica, lost over 830 soldiers and witnessed more than 2,170 wounded. A memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra pays tribute to all those who served during this crucial period of the Second World War.

The Siege of Tobruk stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ and their Allied counterparts. Their unwavering defence of the strategically important town not only thwarted the Axis powers’ advance but also became a symbol of defiance that raised morale throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth during the challenging year of 1941. The legacy of Tobruk and the sacrifices made by the defenders continue to be honoured through memorials and remembrances.

The Australian Defence Force is set to actively participate in Exercise Yama Sakura 85 alongside Japan and the United States, marking a significant stride in bolstering the nation’s interoperability and mutual defence capabilities within the Pacific region. Commencing on December 4 at Camp Higashi-Chitose on Hokkaido Island, this exercise has a longstanding history, originating in 1982 with the primary aim of enhancing interoperability between the Japanese and U.S. military forces, while also honing command and control for large-scale operations.

Australia, having been an observer for over a decade, is now taking a more active role, reflecting the evolving strategic alignment among these nations. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Our growing strategic alignment contributes to shared security challenges in our region and is key to promoting an open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

With expectations that over 200 members of the Australian Defence Force will partake in this large-scale command post training exercise, the move underscores a commitment to trilateral cooperation aimed at fostering an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The invitation extended to the Australian Army followed the conclusion of Exercise Yama Sakura 83.

Major General Scott Winter AM, Commander of the 1st Division, affirmed the significance of Australia’s involvement, stating, “Australia’s participation in Exercise Yama Sakura 85 is a significant step forward in trilateral cooperation in support of an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

This iteration of the exercise is poised to be the largest to date, featuring 230 members of the Australian Army, 1,500 members of the U.S. Army, and 5,300 members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force. The timing of Yama Sakura 85 follows Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles’ official trip to Japan, during which he reinforced the strategic partnership between the two nations.

During the visit, Marles underscored Japan’s central role as an “indispensable partner” to Australia, engaging in discussions with Japanese Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru. The ministers welcomed the entry into force of the landmark Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement, a transformative agreement that enhances bilateral defence cooperation and interoperability of forces. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss recent milestones in the strategic partnership between Australia and Japan.

Yet Another Loss: Russian Major General Vladimir Zavadsky’s Demise Linked to Friendly Mine Incident

In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Major General Vladimir Zavadsky has become the latest casualty, marking the twelfth known death of Russian generals in the region and the seventh officially acknowledged by the Russian authorities.

Contrary to initial reports suggesting Zavadsky’s demise occurred during frontline combat, emerging details indicate a different narrative. Zavadsky, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, reportedly lost his life due to a landmine laid by friendly troops in the rear area, away from the front-line clashes that were previously believed to be the cause.

Even though the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, Zavadsky’s alma mater, initially announced his death on the VKontakte social network, the announcement has been subsequently removed.

Sources within Russia have asserted that the incident occurred at the end of the previous month, with VChK-OGPU, an anti-corruption channel in Russia. According to the channel, the official cause of death is yet to be determined, but there are indications that Ukrainian artillery strikes might be implicated.

This event adds to the grim tally of high-ranking Russian generals who have lost their lives during Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with Zavadsky becoming the seventh to be officially confirmed. The most senior Russian general confirmed killed in Ukraine thus far is Lieutenant General Oleg Yuryevich Tsokov, who fell victim to a Ukrainian airstrike in Berdyansk in July 2023, employing British Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

While both NATO and Russian forces document mine usage, incidents involving friendly mines are not unheard of, often attributed to potential communication lapses between units. The complexity of the situation underscores the challenges and risks inherent in military operations.

OFFICIAL

Thank you for your email in relation to the Public Holidays Bill 2023.

I am disappointed that the Liberal Party is purposely spreading misinformation regarding the new Public Holidays Bill 2023.

I can assure you nothing in the legislation passed by Parliament changes ANZAC Day, Christmas Day being commemorated on 25 April and 25 December respectively, in fact it enshrines those days in legislation as a public holiday.

In fact, the legislation enshrined Christmas Day as a public holiday on whatever day it lands on and Easter Sunday as a public holiday, something the old legislation did not do.

The only party that wanted to abolish a public holiday during the debate in Parliament was the Liberal Party who sought to abolish Easter Saturday as a public holiday, something the South Australian Labor Party opposed.

Nevertheless, to avoid any doubt, this morning I have announced that the legislation will be amended to include the names of the holidays next to the date. This will mean that alongside the date of the public holiday, the name of the public holiday will be included in the legislation for each public holiday.

This will mean in addition to the ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005 (see attached) that enshrines in legislation the commemoration of ANZAC Day on
25 April, we will include the name of the holiday in the Public Holidays Act.

South Australia is one of the only States in Australia to have a separate ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005 that declares ANZAC Day as a day of national significance. It also restricts activities such as public sporting or entertainment events occurring between 5.00 AM and 12 noon on ANZAC Day.

The ANZAC Day Commemoration Act 2005 was introduced by the previous Labor Government and as you will see in the legislation it specifically stipulates “ANZAC Day means 25 April in any year”.

I trust this alleviates your concerns and I appreciate you taking the time to write to me regarding this matter.

Yours sincerely

Peter Malinauskas

PREMIER

DVA will continue to provide support to veterans and families during the holiday season. However, please be aware that some services will be impacted.

Counselling and mental health support

The Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling telephone line is available to support current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Phone 1800 011 046 toll-free.

Safe Zone Support is an anonymous counselling line that is available 24/7 to support members of the current and ex-service community and families. Phone 1800 142 072 toll-free.

If you require urgent assistance, please call 000. If you are unwell, please contact your local doctor or go to your nearest hospital.

Open Arms centres will be closed for the Christmas / New Year period from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 inclusive, and will re-open on Tuesday 2 January 2024. For further mental health information and support, visit the Open Arms website.

Transport bookings for medical treatment

DVA staff will be available to process transport requests for approved medical treatment on 27, 28 and 29 December. Please call 1800 550 455.

This service will be closed on the weekends as well as 25 and 26 December and 1 January. If transport is required on these days and has not been pre-booked, you can pay for the travel and seek reimbursement when we re-open. Or, if you are an existing MyService user, you can make new transport bookings and review existing ones online.

For travel in an emergency always dial 000.

VAN offices and general enquiries

DVA offices, shopfronts and general enquiry services do not operate over weekends or public holidays.

Over the Christmas period, they will be closed from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 inclusive. This includes DVA’s General Enquiries phone line and our Veteran Access Network offices. These services will resume on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Defence Service Homes Insurance

DSH Insurance and its advisors will be available for support with any insurance needs from 8 am to 5 pm, Wednesday 27 December to Friday 29 December. Outside of business hours, and during weekends and national public holidays, calls will be diverted to DSH Insurance’s after-hours service partner, ensuring that support is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

For enquiries, or help with a policy or claim, phone 1300 552 662.

Online insurance enquiries can be made via the DSH Insurance website. They will respond to you after the public holidays.

You can also use lodge a non-urgent claim via the online claim form.

For DSH Insurance’s automated payment service, phone 1300 304 989 for the cost of a local call. This service is also available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Hospital admissions

Doctors can admit DVA patients into hospital over the holiday period and request retrospective approval for the admission, where required, when DVA resumes full services.

Pharmaceutical approvals

There will be no reduction in services across the Christmas/New Year period. Providers seeking prior approval for pharmaceuticals can call the Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre 24 hours a day on 1800 552 580.

Pension payments

Pension paydays are not affected over this period. So the last payment in 2023 will be on Thursday 28 December 2023. The first payment of the New Year will be Thursday 11 January 2024. See ‘Payment dates’ section below.

Incapacity payments

Incapacity payments will be paid as normal on Thursday 21 December 2023. The next payment after this is due on Thursday 4 January 2024. See ‘Payment dates’ section below.

Payment dates

As a result of differing arrangements by various banks during the holiday period, which are beyond DVA’s control, the precise day of the week you receive your pension or incapacity payment may differ from the usual. You may wish to make arrangements to ensure you have enough funds to cover any direct deposit payments.

Client Support Program

The Client Support Program (CSP) provides case management services tailored to the individual needs of clients and families. This program will be closed from Saturday 23 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 inclusive.

CSP case managers will contact their clients prior to this period to discuss support arrangements over this period.

Veteran Support Officers

Veteran Support Officers (VSOs) provide personalised DVA services to ADF members on Defence bases.

VSOs will not be available from 23 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 inclusive.

ADF members can continue to book VSO appointments over the holiday period by emailing vso@dva.gov.au

Scam and fraud tip-offs

The Scam and Fraud Tip-Off mailboxes will not be monitored between 23 December 2023 and 1 January 2024 inclusive.

If you believe you have been the victim of a Scam, please review the options available at IDCARE Official Website – Identity Theft & Cyber Support.

For all serious matters, please contact the police.

Originally penned in 1991 by Larry Hannigan, the composition “The Voice of The Australian Flag” resonates even more profoundly in the present era. It addresses the pressing need to safeguard our national symbols and values, given the current threat posed by a faction in Australia that seeks to undermine the flag, the anthem, and potentially the very essence of our nation. These individuals, often cloistered in the digital realm of iPads and smartphones, lack the depth of human experience, having never witnessed the sacrifice of family members for the sake of the flag. Yet, audaciously, they advocate for its alteration based on trivial reasons.

In my sincere perspective, these individuals are misguided and unpatriotic. Their aspirations to dismantle cherished national symbols are futile, as they lack a genuine connection to the profound sacrifices made under the flag. This reading, delivered by John Downes, invites all to comprehend and appreciate the poignant sentiments encapsulated in this timeless piece of writing. Let us embrace it with pride and a steadfast commitment to preserving the essence of our nation.

ED: Ten Minutes well spent.

John Downes – The Voice of the Australia Flag (1991) – YouTube

Is Australia on the brink of repeating the energy policy mistakes made by Germany? Chris Bowen, the energy and climate czar for the Albanese government, touts the green and renewable revolution as Australia’s “golden ticket” to becoming an industrial powerhouse. However, is he turning a blind eye to the failed examples, particularly Germany, and the economic, industrial, and national security consequences that ensued?

Unlike Germany, not everyone is ideologically fixed in their approach to addressing the energy challenges of the 21st century. Even Australia, despite its efforts such as the Inflation Reduction Act, seems open to alternative solutions. As the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) approaches, several leading nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, are advocating for the nuclear option to reduce carbon footprints and ensure reliable, clean energy for sustained economic and industrial growth amidst heightened geopolitical competition.

A Bloomberg article by John Ainger, Rachel Morison, and Akshat Rathi reveals that the US plans to lead a push at COP28 to triple global installed nuclear power capacity by 2050. This marks a significant shift in the perception of nuclear energy in climate negotiations. The US, joined by the UK, France, Sweden, Finland, South Korea, Japan, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates, aims to triple baseload nuclear power generation globally by the middle of the century.

Support for this approach extends to influential voices like John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, who emphasizes that nuclear energy is a crucial component of a clean energy solution. The American Nuclear Society underscores the need for nuclear-inclusive lending policies to facilitate a large-scale build-out of nuclear energy, promoting sustainability.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasizes that nuclear power has played a significant role in avoiding carbon dioxide emissions, providing clean energy, and contributing to energy security. It can also help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, such as transportation and industry, and play a vital role in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Despite the growing international consensus and approval from experts, Australia’s energy czar seems resistant to learn from the experiences of other nations. This reluctance, critics argue, could condemn Australians to unreliable power, high electricity prices, and vulnerability to Beijing’s growing manufacturing influence.

As the world undergoes a shift towards multipolarity, the Indo-Pacific region becomes a hotbed of competition, with emerging powers like China, India, and others vying for dominance. In this environment, Australia must seek every competitive edge to thrive. To capitalize on the opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, Australia needs to adopt a long-term strategy that goes beyond traditional policy perspectives and addresses the challenges and opportunities presented in the region.

As events unfold, the crucial question remains: when will Australia conduct a more detailed analysis and formulate a comprehensive response to the challenges and opportunities it faces? In an era of increasing great power competition, can Australia afford to remain a secondary power, or should it embrace a larger, more independent role? The answers to these questions will shape Australia’s future in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

ED: You may have grandchildren who would be interested in these studies. 

Defence Minister Richard Marles recently unveiled a significant initiative aimed at boosting the skilled workforce required for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine project. The Australian government, is investing $128 million over four years, starting in 2024, to create thousands of extra Commonwealth-supported places in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses at 16 Australian universities.

The primary goal is to attract and train Australian students in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and physics, aligning with the demands of the AUKUS nuclear submarine program. These additional places, totalling 4,001, will be distributed across 38 STEM-related courses, opening opportunities for students beginning their studies in the next academic year.

Minister Marles emphasising its importance in cultivating the workforce essential for constructing and maintaining Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Over 1,000 of the new slots will be allocated to South Australian universities, directly supporting the submarine construction efforts in Adelaide.

The designated universities participating in this program include:

• The University of Adelaide: 700 places
• RMIT University: 426 places
• University of Wollongong: 425 places
• University of New South Wales: 340 places
• Flinders University: 330 places
• Curtin University: 320 places
• The University of Queensland: 315 places
• The University of Melbourne: 300 places
• Macquarie University: 190 places
• The University of Newcastle: 140 places
• Western Sydney University: 120 places
• Charles Darwin University: 110 places
• The Australian National University: 108 places
• Charles Sturt University: 71 places
• The University of Western Australia: 56 places
• Murdoch University: 50 places

The allocation process involved assessing universities based on the proposed courses’ ability to meet the growing demand for advanced technical skills.

It is important to encouraging more students to pursue STEM subjects to meet the AUKUS program’s skill requirements. Criteria for allocation included the universities’ plans to engage quality teachers, address unmet student demand, expand enrolment levels, and promote participation from under-represented backgrounds.

These 4,001 additional places signals the ongoing commitment to higher education, adding to the 20,000 Commonwealth-supported places already funded. Flinders University expressed gratitude for the government’s decision to allocate 330 Commonwealth-supported places for the Nuclear-Powered Submarines Student Pathways program. Flinders sees this as recognition of its leadership in AUKUS education and research, contributing to South Australia’s workforce development and shipbuilding capacity. Flinders University is prepared to play a pivotal role in supporting the nuclear-powered submarine program through expanded teaching, research, and innovation programs, fostering collaboration with international partners like the University of Rhode Island and The University of Manchester in nuclear science and technology research and education.

Photo: Supplied by Anduril

Anduril Industries has unveiled a groundbreaking defence solution to address the escalating menace of combat drones. The new weapon, named Roadrunner, represents a cost-effective approach to counter the increasing threat of drone attacks.

The Southern California-based defence technology and weapons manufacturer acknowledges the rising accessibility of military-grade drones to terrorist groups. In response, Anduril aims to revolutionize the defence industry’s strategy in dealing with drone threats.

Developed in secret over the past two years, Roadrunner emerges as a compact autonomous fighter jet armed with a warhead. This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) functions like a rocket during take-off and transforms into a high-speed plane to effectively combat the growing drone threat.

A notable feature of Roadrunner is its ability to autonomously return home, land, and be reused, setting it apart from other counterparts in defence technology. Described as a reusable, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), operator-supervised Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV), Roadrunner is equipped with twin turbojet engines and supports modular payload configurations for diverse mission requirements.