All releases

Press Conference, Melbourne

SUBJECTS: Announcement of counter-drone defence funding AMANDA HOLT, SYPAQ MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO: As a wholly Australian-owned business, SYPAQ is proud to partner with the Australian Government and the Department of Defence to deliver trusted, sovereign and adaptive drone and counter-drone…

Television Interview, Sky Newsday

SUBJECTS: Counter-drone investment; National Defence Strategy KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Let's return now to focus on our defence, our national defence. Last week, we saw the Defence Minister and Acting Prime Minister with the overall strategic update. The one thing that wasn't included in…

Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Australia’s counter-drone capability, Middle East conflict; Tax on oil; Gas exports. EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Welcome back on this Tuesday morning. You’re watching News Breakfast. Great to have your company.  Well, there is a lot going on in the world of news, a lot of focus, as well,…

Albanese Government to invest up to $7 billion in counter drone defence

The Albanese Government will more than double investment in counter drones for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with up to $7 billion allocated under the Integrated Investment Program (IIP) over the next decade. As part of the major boost in investment, the Albanese Government today announced two…

Television Interview, ABC Insiders

SUBJECTS: Middle East Conflict, 2026 National Defence Strategy; 2026 Integrated Investment Program; Defence Spending; Australia-US relationship; DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Richard Marles, welcome to the program. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Morning, David. How are you? SPEERS: Before we get…

Television Interview, Sky News Australia

SUBJECTS: Middle East; Strait of Hormuz Freedom of Navigation Summit; new chief of ADF; Ben Roberts‑Smith, defence spending; Defence Delivery Agency; fuel; Newcastle mayoral election.   ANDREW CLENNELL: Joining me live is the Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy. Thank you for your time, Pat…

Opening Remarks, Australia-Japan Defence Ministers' Meeting

SUBJECTS: Australia-Japan relationship; Mogami Memorandum

Joint Press Conference, Melbourne

SUBJECTS: Australia-Japan relationship; Mogami Memorandum

Joint Statement, Australia-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting

18 April 2026, Melbourne, Australia  The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, the Hon. Richard Marles MP, and the Minister of Defense of Japan, Koizumi Shinjiro, met in Melbourne to discuss the development of the Australia-Japan defence partnership and mark a…

Australia locks in delivery of our first three general purpose frigates

The Albanese Government has taken a major step towards delivering a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet with contracts now signed for Australia’s first three general purpose frigates. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the ships will be of the upgraded Japanese Mogami class…

Visit by Japan's Minister of Defense

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will tomorrow welcome Japan’s Minister of Defense, Koizumi Shinjiro, to Australia.  The Ministers will convene in Melbourne for an Australia-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting and a tour of JS Kumano, a Mogami class frigate of the…

Joint Press Conference, Viva Refinery, Geelong

SUBJECTS: Geelong Refinery Incident; National Fuel Security Plan; US Relationship; Middle East Conflict. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Welcome everyone today to the Viva refinery in Corio. Obviously, we wish we were here under better circumstances, but we are very pleased to have…