Source: The Australian 18th September 2024. Article by Ben Packham The military watchdog that ruled the ADF’s most senior officers were not accountable for war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan is widely seen as being “umbilically linked” to...
The Royal Australian Regiment Association (RARA) is deeply concerned with the Government’s decision to revoke distinguished service awards from a number of young ADF officers named in the final Brereton Report (6 November 2020). Of the Report’s 143 recommendations,...
Earlier this year I gave evidence during the final hearing block of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. For three years, the Royal Commission has heard evidence from serving and former-serving members, and their families. The Royal Commission has...
DEFENCE Minister Richard Marles’ inspired decision to open ADF recruiting to non-Australians was, well, brave and courageous. Or was he being courageously braver when he seemed to sidestep responsibility and credit his deputy Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh...
The future of Britain's submarine fleet is being reshaped by a trilateral defence agreement known as Aukus, involving the UK, Australia, and the USA. Watch: Aukus ushers in new era in submarine detection The next-generation SSN-Aukus submarines, set to be built in the...
FORMER Army legal officer David McBride was jailed this week for the unlawful removal of highly classified documents and for releasing information contained therein. McBride’s supporters have compared him with the arch-narcissist Julian Assange, describing both as...
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 panel has warned. The Afghanistan...
Labor's reaction to Zomi Frankcom's death compromises the ADF's ability to fight and win future wars. Picture Gary Ramage When Michael O’Neill, a Tasmanian who was helping to evacuate wounded Ukrainians from the frontlines, was killed by a Russian attack in May 2022,...
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recommended a raft of senior ADF leadership changes to the Governor-General. Vice Chief of the Defence Force Vice Admiral David Johnston AC, RAN, will be appointed as the new Chief of the Defence Force, replacing retiring Chief...
Vice Admiral David Johnston’s promotion to be Chief of Defence Force reminds me of the campaign slogan from the comedy series Veep, where “Vice-President” Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) runs for the top job under the banner “Continuity with Change”....