All News

In contemporary Australia, a growing disconnect between younger generations and traditional values is reshaping the political landscape and influencing national security dynamics. Similar to global trends, Australian Millennials and Zoomers are grappling with economic uncertainties, housing market challenges, and concerns about the nation’s future.

This shift in sentiment is reminiscent of the sentiments expressed by the famous television character Tony Soprano, capturing the feeling that younger Australians may have arrived “too late” to a system that no longer aligns with their aspirations. The intergenerational tension between older generations and their successors further exacerbates the situation, as younger Australians feel misunderstood and unsupported by policymakers who, they believe, have failed to address their unique challenges.

The decline in patriotism and willingness to defend the nation among younger Australians echoes global patterns. Recruitment and retention challenges in the military, as highlighted by former US assistant secretary for defence Owen West and Professor Kevin Wallsten, are mirrored in Australia.

Factors contributing to this shift include the housing affordability crisis, economic transitions, and the impact of artificial intelligence on job prospects. The Australian economy’s shift towards a “knowledge” and services-based model, coupled with concerns about overreliance on mass migration, has left many feeling disillusioned with the system.

This emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to address these challenges. While some argue for increased migration to boost the tax base, critics contend that such a strategy benefits specific sectors at the expense of the majority. The resulting economic disparities contribute to a sense of disconnection and disillusionment among younger Australians.

In a parallel to the US context, where divisive marketing strategies have been blamed for a decline in military recruitment, Australia faces a similar dilemma. Attempts to appeal to younger generations through progressive campaigns may inadvertently alienate traditional supporters, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance.

The report underscores the significance of fostering national pride and connection to traditional values, drawing attention to the success of the US Marine Corps’ recruitment strategy. In Australia, however, confidence in the nation’s identity and the willingness to defend it appear to be eroding, particularly among the youth.

Research reveals a concerning lack of willingness among young Australians to defend their country. Cultural and media influences, coupled with economic challenges, have led many to question the value of fighting for a nation they perceive as lacking a clear identity and cultural unity.

The implications for Australia’s national security are profound. As geopolitical tensions rise, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia must confront the reality of a disengaged and apathetic younger generation. There must be a comprehensive strategy that addresses economic, cultural, and strategic challenges to rekindle a sense of national identity and purpose among Australians.

In the face of a rapidly evolving global order and increased competition in the Indo-Pacific, Australia is urged to move beyond short-term fixes and adopt a long-term perspective. The question posed is whether Australia will embrace a more independent role or risk remaining a secondary power in an era of escalating great power competition.

On Remembrance Day, the Australian War Memorial will host the nation’s key commemoration. This ceremony is attended by many high level dignitaries, students, politicians, thousands of general public, as well as diplomats. The key commemorative address will be delivered by the Governor-General of Commonwealth Australia and later by reciting some traditional remembrance poems along with wreath-laying.

In 1919, on the first anniversary of Armistice Day (later changed to Remembrance Day), an Australian Journalist Edward Honey (working in Fleet Street) came up with a proposal of paying two minute’s silence as part of the key commemorative ceremony for the war dead at the New Cenotaph in London.  Concurrently, a South African Statesman made a similar proposal of two minute silence to the British Cabinet endorsing the proposal by Australian Journalist.

Simultaneously, King George V had a request to all the British Empire people i.e. suspending all the regular activities at the eleventh hour of the Armistice ‘which stayed the worldwide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom’. Since then the two minute silence proposal was popularly adapted by all the other allied countries and even became an important attraction and must to be followed feature of commemorations on Armistice Day.

The following year’s Armistice Day i.e. even the second anniversary holds some significance. Yes, on the second anniversary, there happened to receive the unknown soldiers remains from the battle fields of Western Front and the funeral ceremony had happened plus interred with full military honours in Westminster Abbey in London and at the Arc de Triumph in Paris. After the entombment, the Unknown Soldier’s tomb had attracted millions of people during the first week in London. Over time or we can say following many years, the tradition of entombing unknown soldier’s remains had been adapted by the other allied nations.

After Second World War, at the end, the name ‘Armistice’ was been changed to ‘Remembrance Day’ on 11^th November and the decision was taken both Australian and British governments. Since then people consider ‘Remembrance Day’ as the appropriate title for a day on which the main commemorations are held for those who serviced in the wars and especially for the dead soldiers.

In Australia, the ‘Remembrance Day Ceremonies and commemorations again became the main focus on national media and gained a popular attention from public i.e. on 75^th Anniversary of Remembrance Day. Yes, on 75^th Anniversary in 1993, the remains of entombed Unknown Soldier were exhumed from the military cemetery belonging to First World War in Memorial Halls of Memory in France.

Later on the tradition of two minute silence and the proposal of suspending works at the eleventh hour on eleventh day of eleventh month had been adapted every year by all the allied countries small towns and cities.

After four years in 1997, Australian Governor General Sir William Deane provided a formal proclamation acknowledging November 11 as the Remembrance Day and re-established as the significant day of Commemoration. On the same day, He urged all the Australians to pay one minute silence every year on Eleventh hour (11am) of Eleventh day of Eleventh month (November 11^th) in remembrance of those who participated, suffered and especially died for the cause of the Australian Nation in all the wars and conflicts.

IN FLANDERS’ FIELD
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN MCCRAE, MD (1872-1918)

In Flanders’ Fields the poppies blow
Between the headstones, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ fields.

The ABC, our national broadcaster funded by taxpayers, has been criticized for failing to represent the diverse views of the nation. Approximately 25 percent of the population actively engages with the ABC, while an increasing number abstain from its content. This disengagement stems from the perception that the ABC caters primarily to a specific demographic—the “red and greens,” a group that tends to dominate public discourse despite being a minority.

This bias became glaringly evident during a recent referendum, where the ABC displayed a clear inclination towards the ‘Yes’ case. The aftermath saw the ABC providing a platform for the vitriol directed at the 61 percent who chose not to support constitutional changes, revealing a stark contrast between the broadcaster’s favoured perspective and the broader national sentiment.

Despite growing discontent, tuning out seems to be the prevalent response from those dissatisfied with the ABC. Years of perceived leftist bias on issues ranging from racial politics to climate have left viewers resigned to the status quo. The ABC’s unapologetic partiality is accepted as a constant, akin to the weather.

However, change is possible if there is political will. The evident bias within the ABC goes beyond mere program time comparisons; it extends to editorial emphasis, the selection of interviewees, and the overall tone of coverage. Instances of biased reporting, such as a young female Indigenous reporter expressing subjective views on behalf of “her people,” contribute to the perception of imbalance.

Calls for reform are surprisingly muted, considering the potential for change. Transitioning the ABC to a user-pays model, similar to a streaming service, could be a viable solution. In such a system, the broadcaster’s income would be directly tied to its ability to attract viewers and listeners. This would not only be fairer but would also eliminate the need for additional taxpayer-funded handouts. Furthermore, in the age of online information, the traditional role of national broadcasters is questioned, making them seem like relics from a bygone era.

In essence, a user-pays model aligns with both the principles of broadcasting and democracy. It allows the broadcaster to address financial concerns independently, rather than relying on periodic government subsidies. This alternative approach, compared to providing more funding for the status quo, ensures a fairer distribution of costs among those who actively consume the content.

By Mark Scroffel – AVN

 The Returned and Services League (RSL) Australia has, over the past year, coordinated a series of National Forums for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) with the intention of unifying the voices and efforts of various groups dedicated to veteran welfare. This initiative has seen the collaboration of over 70 organisations nationwide and sought to harness a collective strength to tackle challenges faced by veterans, including the implementation of recommendations from the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The RSL’s National Forums for ESOs, which spanned from November 2022 to October 2023, involved subject matter experts both local and international. These experts, drawn from a spectrum of backgrounds including the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, contributed insights aiming to coalesce the sector around common goals and strategies.

RSL National President, Greg Melick, acknowledged the need for legislative reform and improvements in claims processing at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He emphasised the importance of ex-service organisations working in a spirit of collaboration and shared purpose to support the wellbeing of veterans and their families, saying:

“Our ESO sector is now presented with an opportunity to more effectively deliver on its shared purpose and leverage its collective strengths by uniting to advocate for the needs of those we represent, provide valuable and efficient services, and collectively work to reduce suicide and suicidality among the veteran community.”

A significant outcome from the initiative was the consensus on the need for a national peak body to represent and advocate for the interests of Australian veterans and the ESO sector. Furthermore, participants highlighted the necessity for a national implementation body to ensure the recommendations of the Royal Commission are actioned promptly and effectively.

Yet, amidst this progress, critical voices from within the veteran community have identified some concerns about the approach taken and potential weaknesses in the peak body model being developed. Ian Lindgren, a respected figure within the ESO landscape, expressed reservations about the operational focus of the forum’s discussions. He contended that there was an excessive focus on granular details at the expense of higher-level strategic planning.

Lindgren urged for leadership by professionals with substantial expertise and called for innovative thinking rather than adherence to potentially ineffective existing models. He further questioned the self-governance allowed to ESOs by DVA on advocacy issues, the need for oversight of ethical conduct, and the legal status of volunteers within these organisations.

Despite such critiques, the forums have charted a potential pathway toward a more united and robust ESO sector. This with Melick’s earlier acknowledgements of past fragmentation within the ESO community and the commitment to rectify this is a promising pivot toward greater effectiveness and collaboration.

The forums have set the stage for enhanced collaboration and represent a pivotal shift with the potential to transform service across the veteran sector, yet as Lindgren cautions, it demands a fresh and vigilant mindset to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

The Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition will open its doors to a record number of defence industry businesses and international naval delegations in Sydney this week.

Navantia has presented new warship designs for consideration in the Royal Australian Navy’s future surface fleet. Unveiling the Tasman Class corvette at the Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition, the 3,000-tonne design is based on the Alpha 3000 ships in service with Saudi Arabia. It boasts a crew of 90, a total capacity for 124 personnel, 16 VLS, four quad anti-ship missile launchers, close-in weapons systems, and a 57mm main gun. Additionally, Navantia is offering a heavier 3,700-tonne design and a Tier 1 Flight III destroyer, described as a “big brother” to the Hobart Class destroyer.

The Flight III design features options for directed energy weapons, 128 VLS, and a five-inch millennium main gun. All three designs have garnered significant interest at the exposition. In collaboration with Austal and Civmec, Navantia Australia aims to deliver six corvettes to meet the Navy’s urgent need for increased strike capability. These corvettes combine Tier 2 vessel maneuverability with major surface combatant weaponry, ensuring a smaller crew without compromising integrated warfare capabilities.

The proposal, named the Tasman Class corvette, was presented in response to the 2023 Defence Strategic Review. The three companies have been working on the proposal since November 2022, and it includes the integration of Saab Australian combat systems and CEA Technologies radars. The corvettes will be constructed in Henderson, Western Australia, leveraging existing infrastructure and a well-advanced design based on an operational reference vessel.

Austal’s CEO, Paddy Gregg, emphasizes the strategic importance of a national shipbuilding capability, and the proposed corvette program will establish a regional shipbuilding enterprise in Western Australia. The collaboration aims to consolidate resources and create a new warship construction hub, aligning with the recommendations of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review. The designs include NSM Anti Surface launchers, MK-41 vertical launch system cells, and existing Australian payloads.

With potential conflict brewing in the region, Ben Packham, The Australian’s renowned Foreign Affairs and Defence correspondent, unravels the $7.8 billion lethal weapon load-out that will keep Australia safe.

Gilad Erdan, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, made a strong statement during an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In his speech, he emphasized that the ongoing conflict in the region should not be framed as a war between Israel and the Palestinian people but rather as a conflict with the Hamas terrorist organization.

Erdan’s statement underscores the Israeli perspective that the primary adversary in this situation is Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and several other countries. According to this viewpoint, Israel is acting to defend itself against the actions of Hamas, which includes rocket attacks, terrorism, and other activities that threaten the security and well-being of Israeli citizens.

Erdan also expressed concerns that Hamas might be banking on international intervention through the United Nations to prevent Israel from defending itself. This concern reflects Israel’s stance that it has a right to self-defense in the face of threats from terrorist organizations, and it highlights their perspective that international responses should consider the broader context of the conflict and the actions of groups like Hamas.

The US Defence Department is expediting the delivery of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Australia, as a result of recent meetings between representatives from both nations earlier this month. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles held discussions with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III at the Pentagon on October 31, focusing on the United States-Australia alliance, the transfer of Black Hawks, and various foreign policy matters.

The Black Hawk helicopters are being introduced to replace Australia’s MRH-90 Taipan helicopters. This decision came after an MRH-90 helicopter crashed in Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre on July 28, leading to the grounding of the entire MRH-90 fleet.

US Secretary Austin expressed optimism about the future of the relationship, particularly in the realm of defence cooperation. He emphasized their shared vision for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region and their determination to make that vision a reality.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing defence cooperation, including collaboration on defence technology, force posture initiatives, and the trilateral AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom. They also celebrated recent announcements regarding the historic cooperation between Australia and Japan, exchanged views on shared security challenges, and discussed additional alliance initiatives to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. The two leaders also discussed the global security environment and shared their perspectives on the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Earlier this year, three new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, manufactured in the US, were delivered to Australia for use by the Australian Army. Two of these helicopters, built by Lockheed Martin, were transported to RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney on July 30 via a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport plane. These two helicopters are part of the initial batch of a total of 40 Black Hawk helicopters ordered by the Australian Defence Force. A third UH-60M Black Hawk arrived on August 4, also transported via a US Air Force C-17, as confirmed by a Defence spokesperson.

HI all,

Well, I have had my pacemaker fitted all is good, arrived home from hospital at 1:30 no pain thank goodness. I’m quite a bit tired very little sleep, so I’ll have an afternoon nap so I’m ready to watch some riveting TV tonight …haha. I have left arm in a sling and I’m not to reach above my shoulder for three weeks. Anyhow, I will be back at my desk tomorrow.

Cheers

Ray