All News

ED: From my inbox

Australia’s defence landscape is in a state of pressing demand for increased investment. As global tensions rise and the need for national security intensifies, there is a growing consensus that the current defence spending falls short of what’s required. Ensuring our national security and the readiness of our forces demands more robust funding, as well as strategic allocation toward modern and essential equipment.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) requires significant upgrades to maintain its effectiveness and address both current and emerging threats. Increasing defence spending would provide the necessary resources to equip our personnel with the latest technology and strengthen our defence capabilities.

For Australia to remain prepared, responsive, and resilient, we must commit to long-term defence investment that not only addresses immediate needs but also anticipates future challenges. Enhancing defence spending is not just a safeguard for today but a critical investment in Australia’s stability and sovereignty tomorrow.

DVA – ANZAC Portal

Stuart Smith was a young child when his father was killed in action in South Vietnam, and it was some years before the sense of loss began to sink in. For his mother, Janice, who had to raise 2 sons on her own, the connection to her husband remained strong.

Bernard Lyle ‘Bernie’ Smith was born on 2 September 1939 in Snowtown, South Australia.

Bernie’s family had a history of military service so, not surprisingly, he grew up wanting to join the Army. His father had served as a radio operator in the Australian Army during World War II, his grandfather served in the Second South African (Boer) War, and 3 of his great-uncles served with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I.

A talented musician from a young age, Bernie applied to join the Australian Army as a ‘Band Boy’ but was unsuccessful. It wasn’t until November 1958, when he was 19, that Bernie enlisted in the regular army. After basic infantry training, he deployed to Malaya from 1959 to 1961.

Not long after his return to Australia, he married Janice Leonora Bain and they had 2 children, Stuart and Edward.

Still in the Army, Bernie was promoted to corporal in 1965 and trained the first intake of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), readying it for deployment to Vietnam. Bernie and his battalion arrived in Vietnam in May 1966.

The soldiers of 5RAR worked tirelessly to exert control over Nui Dat, an area dominated by the Viet Cong. Bernie was selected to join the reconnaissance platoon, scouting for the enemy before the battalion moved in and conducting ambushes. Bernie’s work was extremely dangerous.

In 1967, 5RAR finished its tour of duty and Bernard returned home to his family. Promoted to sergeant, he worked as an instructor to train platoon commanders.

Two years later, 5RAR deployed to Vietnam again.

In March 1969, during a reconnaissance operation, Bernie was part of a rescue mission in a minefield. When an M16 landmine was detonated, 7 soldiers were wounded and 3 died. Bernie was killed instantly. He was 29 years old; his sons were only 5 and 1.

Janice recalled the heart-wrenching moment the police came to her door. She knew instantly what it meant. Ever since the war, Janice has attended every reunion of her husband’s battalion.

For Stuart, the 1987 Welcome Home Parade in Sydney was particularly special. In his father’s honour, he carried a plaque and flag, walking at the front of the parade. It was an emotionally moving day, where he met many of his father’s comrades and heard new stories about the man he’d called ‘Dad’.

The Australian Army is quickly advancing its deployment of the latest Abrams M1A2 main battle tanks, with the first group of soldiers now trained in operations and maintenance at Puckapunyal. This initiative is part of a larger effort to modernize Australia’s armoured capabilities, with a total fleet of 75 tanks planned, 46 of which have already been delivered from the United States.

According to Major General Richard Vagg, Head of Land Capability, the upgraded M1A2 tanks offer enhanced lethality, protection, mobility, and communication systems. “These new main battle tanks are integral to our combined arms strategy,” he said. “They will allow our land forces to secure critical positions and support long-range operations as part of a unified defence force. No other battlefield asset can match this combination of protection, precise firepower, and cross-terrain mobility, which maximizes our soldiers’ mission success and their safe return home. We are thankful for the invaluable support from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales program, reflecting the depth of our alliance.”

Major General Jason Blain, Head of Land Systems, highlighted that the Army will leverage existing infrastructure to support these new tanks while also investing in Australian industry for maintenance and servicing. “The Abrams M1A2s will require extensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities, which we plan to establish in key locations,” Blain stated. The main support hubs will be positioned near operational bases, including Puckapunyal and Bandiana in Victoria, and Townsville in Queensland.

By the end of the year, 14 Abrams M1A2 tanks will be delivered to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville, with field training scheduled to start in early 2025. This new armoured fleet marks a major step forward in equipping the Australian Army with cutting-edge technology to support national and allied defence objectives.

US Defence -SE Pacific

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has outlined a structured, three-phase strategy for the retirement of its Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter fleet, scheduled to be phased out by 2027-2028. The Tiger, a two-seater attack helicopter, has been in service with the ADF since 2004, providing critical reconnaissance and attack capabilities.

During a recent Senate Estimates meeting, held on November 6, questions were raised regarding the Tiger’s flight-hour performance and its current operational condition. Despite the scheduled drawdown, flight records indicate that the Tigers have performed above projected flying hours for the 2023-2024 period. The ADF has also acknowledged challenges, including spare parts shortages, which may necessitate “cannibalisation” strategies to maintain airworthiness of the fleet through its remaining years.

To address these challenges, ADF leadership confirmed that a three-stage plan is in place to ensure a smooth transition from the Tiger to the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The first phase focuses on maintaining Tiger operations until 2027 to bridge capabilities and facilitate a seamless transition. The second phase acknowledges logistical pressures, including parts shortages, akin to issues experienced with the retired MRH-90 Taipan helicopters. Finally, the third phase involves stabilisation efforts to keep the fleet operational until it is fully withdrawn from service.

The viability of the Tiger helicopters has garnered interest internationally, including from Ukraine, which had previously requested access to the retired MRH-90 Taipan fleet. The ADF is assessing options to ensure the Tigers remain a viable asset should they become available for potential future transfer to Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent

North Korea has formalized a mutual defence treaty with Russia, as reported by state media on November 12. The agreement obligates both countries to provide military support to one another in the event of an armed attack.

The announcement follows reports of initial skirmishes between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia’s Kursk region near the border. North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, confirmed that Kim Jong Un officially ratified the treaty, stating, “The treaty will take effect from the day when both sides exchanged the ratification instruments.”

Russia’s legislature unanimously approved the treaty last week, and President Vladimir Putin subsequently signed it into law. The agreement, initially signed in June during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, commits both nations to immediate military support if either faces an attack.

During a recent visit to Moscow, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui expressed Pyongyang’s unwavering support for Russia, asserting that North Korea would stand by Russia “until the day of victory.”

South Korea, Ukraine, and Western nations have accused North Korea of deploying roughly 10,000 troops to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Western governments also allege that North Korea has been supplying Moscow with artillery shells and missiles for use in the ongoing war.

The G7 nations recently condemned the escalating military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. They raised concerns that North Korean troops could receive training in the use of ballistic missiles, a development that would contravene UN Security Council resolutions.

The Krakow Post

In a strategic response to rising hostilities, US forces conducted airstrikes on nine locations in Syria, targeting Iran-linked militia groups. The strikes, initiated over the past 24 hours, aim to diminish the ability of these Iranian-backed groups to orchestrate and execute future attacks on US and coalition forces in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) indicated that this operation underscores a firm stance against aggression toward American personnel and their allies.

The recent airstrikes by US forces on nine Syria-based targets mark a strong countermeasure following a wave of attacks on US personnel. In a public statement, CENTCOM highlighted that these strikes were specifically designed to weaken the groups’ operational capabilities, disrupting their ability to plan and conduct future assaults.

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of CENTCOM, reinforced this message, stating, “Attacks against US and coalition partners in the region will not be tolerated.” He added that the United States remains resolute in its commitment to safeguard its personnel and allies.

This series of strikes sends a clear message to Iran-linked militias and to Tehran itself about the US’s commitment to counteracting any threats to stability in the region. As CENTCOM continues to monitor developments, the resolve to prevent further hostilities remains unwavering, especially in light of ongoing threats and increasing aggression toward US forces and partners.

The airstrikes come at a time of heightened tension across the Middle East, particularly amid worsening relations between Israel and Iran. On November 3, the US deployed several B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers to the Middle East, signifying strong support for Israel and underscoring the gravity of the current security landscape.

Adding to the fraught environment, an Iranian-linked operative was recently accused of attempting to assassinate US President-elect Donald Trump, intensifying concerns over Iran’s involvement in proxy conflicts and targeted threats.

As tensions continue to rise, the US military’s swift response serves as both a deterrent and a reminder of its readiness to defend its interests and allies in the face of persistent threats from Iran-backed entities.

Courier Mail – Mike O’Connor

As the Department of Home Affairs struggled to deal with thousands of visa applications from Gaza and Lebanon earlier this year, the head of the department made a momentous decision.

As the backlog of applications, some with national security implications, increased and a legal and political maelstrom swirled around our immigration policy, Home Affairs secretary and department head Stephanie Foster was worrying herself with “cultural reforms.”

Accordingly, she ordered staff to remove the Australian flag from the photographs of senior officials that appeared on the department’s website, a website you would presume would be accessed by those seeking to come to our country.

The reason offered by Ms Foster to the Senate estimates hearing at which she was being questioned was that she felt that the presence of the flag made the photographs appear too formal.

Fearful that an image of the Australian flag would, by an extravagant stretch of the imagination, somehow intimidate, upset or otherwise cause distress to a person or persons unknown and in the absence of any proof that this had ever occurred, she ordered it to be removed.

Better to be on the safe side, just in case someone complained.

Here then is a microcosm of the attitudes that have come to infect politics, the public service, the corporate world and tertiary education and against which a large proportion of the American electorate rebelled last week.

Enough, they cried, is enough. Down here at the bottom of the world, resentment at the state of the nation is still simmering and has yet to boil over and manifest itself in political revolt but that day is coming.

As a male, I’ve had a gutful of our sex being demeaned as misogynistic abusers of women to the point where young men are accused of being part of a culture which is now tagged as “toxic masculinity” and are made to feel guilty because they are men.

Bad men do bad things but the other 99 per cent respect the women in their lives so let’s hear it for all those men who love and protect their partners and work hard to provide a safe and comfortable life for them and their offspring.

Is it possible that we are beginning to see the pendulum begin to swing back to the right and herald the end of the diversity, equity and inclusion doctrine that has become mantra for all those people who would seek to hide their own inadequacies and failings behind the DEI shield?

If you seek an example of how DEI works, look no further than its flag bearer US president Joe Biden who declared that his running mate would not be the person most eminently suited to be the leader of 335 million people in the event of his demise but the one who ticked the most DEI boxes.

Women, his team theorised, would vote for Kamala Harris because she wasn’t a man and blacks and Latinos would because she was not white. They did none of these things. Instead, they looked beyond the ticked boxes and saw a person who in their estimation was ill suited to be their president.

We’ve gone a long way down the “woke” track in this land of ours and reached a point where we jump at shadows, fearful of causing offence and of being accused of misogyny, bullying, racism, fascism and Islamophobia.

Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars are spent on welcome-to-country ceremonies that no one asked for and which are meaningless, but no one has the courage to put an end to them for fear of being accused of one or more of the “isms.”

Corporations spend large amounts of money on consultants who lecture their employees on how to best avoid offending their workmates and then more money on people who console the shattered emotions of someone who has been told that their performance is sub-standard.

The expectation is that everyone is above criticism. People can be lazy, rude and incompetent but no one dares mention these failings or do anything to correct them lest they be branded a bully.

We have been played for mugs for too long and taken the easy way out, going along with the endless demands of the entitled in the hope of avoiding conflict, aided and abetted in this by weak, spineless politicians who bend with the wind and aspire only to keep their snouts in the trough.

Enough is enough.

In today’s video, we’ll examine the 10 oldest and most powerful weapon systems still in active service with the U.S. military. These iconic pieces of military technology have proven their durability and effectiveness in various combat environments, from the Vietnam War to modern-day operations.

Defence Media Release

Conventional warfighting and cricket will underscore the deepening defence cooperation between Australian and India, as 120 soldiers from the Australian Army’s 13th Brigade depart for the third iteration of Exercise Austrahind 2024.

The exercise, held this year in India’s Pune region, is a three-week joint training activity and cultural exchange between the two nations.

Commander of 13th Brigade, Brigadier Amanda Williamson, said Exercise Austrahind allowed Australia and India to share their skills and tactics in an increasingly complex regional context.

“Australia and India are top-tier security partners, and we’re strengthening our defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean region,” Brigadier Williamson said.

“Coming together allows us to enhance the scope and complexity of our joint military exercises and develop new ways to address our shared security challenges.

“The planned cultural exchange between the 10th Light Horse Regiment and the Indian Army’s Dogra Regiment will be a remarkable opportunity for two historic units to share experiences.”

Brigadier Williamson said while activities such as traditional dancing, military horse riding and the ceremonial food banquet might be new to some of her soldiers, the planned cricket match between the two units will be more familiar.

“Our soldiers were delighted to host their Indian Army counterparts here in Western Australia last year. We’re looking forward to renewing those connections in India this year, especially on the cricket field,” she said.

“Exercise Austrahind aims to promote mutual understanding and tactical level information sharing, all while exposing participants, many of whom are reservists, to the military culture of a top-tier security partner.

“It speaks volumes about Austrahind’s importance that it has grown so quickly. We’re sending almost three times as many soldiers this year compared to 2022.”

Brigadier Williamson will launch the exercise at Austrahind’s opening ceremony, while Commander 2nd (Australian) Division, Major General David Thomae, will officiate the closing ceremony, highlighting the significance of the event.

Australia and India share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership contributing to an open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Bill Coolburra was born at Palm Island, North Queensland, and joined the Australian Army in 1964. As a sapper with the Australian Engineers, he served in Borneo, Vietnam, Malaya and Singapore. In the Vietnam War, Sapper Bill was part of 3 Field Troop, nicknamed the ‘Tunnel Rats’. Their dangerous work was to enter and clear complex tunnel systems made by the Viet Cong. Well respected in his local community, Bill spent many years after service supporting and mentoring Indigenous youth. His story is one of audacity and friendship.