Yesterday
Australia won’t raid Pacific militaries to plug defence gaps: Conroy
Plans to recruit Pacific Islanders to join the Australian Defence Force are focusing on attracting school leavers with the offer of learning a trade.
This Month
Albanese and Dutton fight on the home front for voters
With the countdown now on to the election, both sides used budget week to stake out their territory on the hot-button housing issue. But it’s already a crowded policy space, and there are no quick fixes.
- Analysis
- Federal budget
The ADF will grow by just 358 people next year. That’s a big problem
If Defence is to attract the 5000 new soldiers, sailors and aviators it desperately needs, it must do a much better job looking after its current ones.
PM chides Labor MP over her use of anti-Israel slogan
The opposition wants Anthony Albanese to remove rookie senator Fatima Payman from a prestigious parliamentary committee after her pro-Palestinian advocacy.
New US tariffs on China could help Australian critical minerals
It’s not just the federal budget that could boost Australia’s critical minerals exports, but also a new round of US tariffs on Chinese imports.
- Updated
Defence’s big budget boost four years away, as soldier shortage hits 5000
Despite dire strategic times, defence spending will hover just above 2 per cent for several years before starting to meaningfully rise from mid-2027.
Solomons, PNG win in $1b-plus Pacific play to ward off China
The government will provide funds for telecommunication cables in the Solomon Islands, help Papua New Guinea with a $600 million bailout and upgrade embassies.
- Exclusive
- Cybersecurity
This industry needs 5000 new workers every year just to keep up
Australian cybersecurity workers warn the domestic industry is not competitive with foreign rivals.
- Exclusive
- Australia's China challenge
Meet Taiwan’s ‘matchmaker’ for Australian business
As Taiwan prepares to welcome a new president and bolster economic ties with Australia, the self-ruled island’s envoy issues a warning over Chinese coercion.
Chinese debt trap diplomacy blamed for grounding Vanuatu airline
Air Vanuatu has gone into voluntary liquidation, putting pressure on the Albanese government to bail out the national carrier.
Trade partners applaud gas certainty; trouble brews for Labor at home
Gas, not wishful thinking, is needed to get to net zero, says Anthony Albanese.
- Updated
Australia considers voting yes on Palestine’s UN bid
Penny Wong says abstaining is a common diplomatic practice, amid pressure to admit Palestine as a United Nations member.
Military tensions flare on the road to stability with China
A near miss between a Chinese fighter jet and Australian helicopter show that friction remains despite improvement in ties between Beijing and Canberra.
‘Show leadership’: Palestinian plea ahead of key UN vote
The Albanese government is being lobbied heavily over whether to support a symbolic vote upgrading Palestine to full membership of the UN.
Australia’s defence chief rejects Chinese spying claims
In his first comments on dramatic helicopter near miss, General Angus Campbell said a Chinese pilot had acted unsafely and unprofessionally.
China wrong on defence flare stoush: Albanese
Beijing now says an Australian navy helicopter was spying on its military in the Yellow Sea.
Beijing blames ‘provocative move’ for helicopter flare incident
Stabilisation of ties between Canberra and Beijing suffered a setback after a Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian navy helicopter.
- Updated
Navy helicopter near miss in latest Chinese confrontation
Australian personnel had to take evasive action when their helicopter was confronted by a Chinese fighter jet.
Social cohesion ‘fraying’, Albanese admits amid anti-Israel backlash
Anthony Albanese defended his efforts to keep the community together but would not be drawn on a looming UN vote on Palestinian statehood.
FWC, government face pressure to step in over submarines pay stoush
The Albanese government insists that an industrial dispute at submarine builder ASC in Adelaide won’t affect the navy’s ability to deploy the ageing Collins-class submarines.