Media releases

Deputy Prime Minister to attend Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and visit Indonesia and Vanuatu

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will attend the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue with Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, in Singapore from 2-4 June 2023. The Deputy Prime Minister will then travel to Indonesia and Vanuatu for high-level talks with his…

Australia and Republic of Korea to enhance defence ties

The Deputy Prime Minister has finished his two-day visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) representing the Prime Minister at the 2023 Korea–Pacific Islands Summit and meeting separately with President Yoon and Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup. At this morning’s meeting the Deputy Prime…

Visit to the Republic of Korea for the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, will visit the Republic of Korea to attend the inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit on 29 May 2023, on behalf of the Prime Minister. Representatives from the 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) have been…

Defence Strategic Review External Advisory Panel appointed

The Albanese Government will establish an External Advisory Panel to oversee the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendations. Former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Dennis Richardson AC, former Secretary of the Department of Finance, Ms Rosemary Huxtable PSM,…

Appointment of inaugural Chief of Personnel

Today the Albanese Government takes another step forward in implementing the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) with the appointment of Major General Natasha Fox, AM, CSC, as the inaugural Chief of Personnel in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). As recommended by the DSR, ADF…

Update on Projects of Concern

The Australian Government has listed a new defence project as a Project of Concern: the Satellite Ground Station – East and Wideband SATCOM Network Management System. While infrastructure for the project has been delivered, including three large ground antennae, it is facing ongoing schedule delays…

New Bushmasters for the Australian Defence Force

The Australian Government has signed a $160 million contract with Thales Australia to deliver an additional 78 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the Australian Defence Force. Bushmasters will continue to be manufactured in Bendigo, Victoria, with the first delivery expected in 2024.…

Puckapunyal opens health centre and accommodation

The Albanese Government is committed to decisions which will see the best outcomes for the Australian Defence Force and our national security. As we outlined in the recent federal budget, defence spending is growing over the medium term in line with Australia's strategic circumstances. Defence…

Boosting renewable energy for Defence in the north

The Albanese Government is investing $13 million in solar energy generation and battery storage systems at five Defence sites across the Northern Territory, as part of the nationwide Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program. Under this investment, large-scale renewable energy projects…

New investment in skills paves the way for AUKUS workforce

The Albanese Government’s Budget invests nearly $150 million to start delivering the skills and workforce we need to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program through AUKUS. The AUKUS plan for Australia to acquire and manufacture nuclear-powered submarines will create around 20,000…

Defence and veteran families celebrated this National Families Week

The unique challenges Australian Defence Force (ADF) families experience are being recognised this week at events across Australia, as part of National Families Week. To mark the beginning of National Families Week, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Hon Matt Keogh MP,…

Further investments to support veterans and families

The Albanese Government is investing an additional $328.1 million in the 2023-24 Budget to support the more than 340,000 veterans and dependants accessing services through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This builds on the $537.5 million invested in the October 2022 Budget as part of the…