Media releases

Wagga Wagga Airport cleared for take-off with new 50 year lease

The Albanese Government has secured Wagga Wagga Airport’s long-term future following agreement for a new 50 year lease between Wagga Wagga City Council and the Department of Defence. The new lease will build on a longstanding partnership between Council and Defence and provides the certainty needed…

Largest ADF in 25 years

More Australians are choosing to join and stay in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as the Albanese Government continues its record investments to put Defence recruitment and retention back on track.  In the 2025-26 financial year, the ADF grew to its largest size in a quarter of a century,…

25th commemoration of September 11

Today marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, which claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in the United States and from countries around the world.On this solemn day, we remember the 2,977 people killed in New York, Washington DC and in…

Army's world-class air defence capability ready for operations

Australia’s integrated air and missile defence capability has been strengthened with the achievement of Final Operational Capability for Army’s National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) capability. This milestone confirms the NASAMS has met all requirements for operational service…

$2.4 billion investment in air and missile defence

The Albanese Government is investing $2.4 billion to strengthen Australia's air and missile defence capabilities while building a resilient sovereign defence industrial base. Delivered as part of the second tranche of AIR 6500, this investment is a critical component of the Albanese Government’s…

Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Response Expanded

Today marks two years since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report. In that time, the Albanese Government has been resolutely focused on implementing its recommendations, and delivering real, meaningful and enduring reform to improve the lives of veterans…

Stott Despoja to lead Military Sexual Violence Inquiry

I am pleased to announce Natasha Stott Despoja AC has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of the independent Defence and Veteran Service Commission (DVSC) to lead the inquiry into Military Sexual Violence as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. As a former Royal…

75 years of ANZUS

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, a cornerstone of Australia’s defence and security, and a foundation of our enduring cooperation with the United States and New Zealand. The signing of the ANZUS Treaty in 1951 formalised the Australia-US Alliance, which was forged on the…

Travel to the United States and United Kingdom

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to the United States and the United Kingdom this week for a series of high-level meetings. Australia and the United States are the strongest of allies, with a shared vision for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific,…

Additional humanitarian support for Nepal

The Australian Government is deploying a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance, the second tranche of our ongoing support for response and recovery following the devastating floods along the Nepal-China border. 42 Australians remain unaccounted for. The Australian Government continues to do…

Expanded support for Australian defence industry through $US3 Billion finance facility

Today, the Albanese Labor Government is pleased to announce the $US3 billion Defence Industry Growth Facility, which will ensure that the Australian defence industry can continue to grow and compete on a global scale. Through the new Defence Industry Growth Facility, the Government will provide…

Australia–Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono to Melbourne. At the 10th Australia–Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting…