Media releases

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…

2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program

Today, the Albanese Government has released the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. Together, these documents set out the Government’s plan to respond to our strategic circumstances and keep Australians safe. In delivering the 2026 National Defence Strategy…

Appointment of leadership positions in the Australian Defence Force

The Australian Government is pleased to recommend to Her Excellency, the Governor General, a number of senior command changes within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Subject to the Governor General’s consideration and approval, these changes will take effect from July 2026.The Chief of the Navy…

First Australian-made missiles test-fired

The first Australian-made Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles have been successfully test-fired at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. The successful firing expands the long-range strike capability of the Australian Army and demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment…

Supporting the response to Tropical Cyclone Maila

Australia will provide $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to support their responses to Tropical Cyclone Maila. An initial $1.5 million will be provided to Solomon Islands, where the most severe impacts have been…

Supporting Australian industry to join UK submarine supply chains

The Albanese Government continues to expand opportunities for Australian businesses in support of AUKUS – helping to secure high-value manufacturing contracts that support Australian jobs, and develop robust and resilient supply chains.  Today, the Government is announcing the development…

Travel to Japan

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to Japan this week to meet with his counterpart, Minister of Defense, Koizumi Shinjiro. In Tokyo, Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Minister Koizumi will convene a ministerial meeting under the Framework for Strategic…

Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill passes Parliament

Today marks an important milestone in the Albanese Government’s implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.  The Parliament has passed the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025 and the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner…

Defence estate community consultation sessions begin

Community consultation sessions will begin in Tasmania next week as part of the Albanese Government’s nationwide response to the independent Defence Estate Audit.  The Audit, delivered in 2023 by Ms Jan Mason and Mr Jim Miller, undertook a comprehensive review of Australia’s Defence estate –…

First Australian-built Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles roll off assembly line

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to deliver capabilities to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at pace with the first batch of Australian‑built Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) already rolling off the assembly line. The first seven Boxers built at Rheinmetall…

Australia and Germany to closely cooperate on guided weapons components

The Albanese Government has taken a major step toward establishing domestic manufacturing of priority components for anti-ship cruise missiles, delivering another important boost to the nation’s guided weapons capability. Today, the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP and German…

Visit to Australia by Germany's Minister of Defence

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, will today welcome the Federal Minister of Defence of Germany, Boris Pistorius, to Canberra for his first official visit to Australia. Australia and Germany are close friends with a…