Media releases

Travel to Philippines for 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to the Philippines this week to represent Australia at the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).  The Deputy Prime Minister’s attendance at the ADMM-Plus…

New Defence legislation to protect bases and accelerate capability

The Albanese Government has today introduced new legislation to protect Defence bases, personnel, and critical assets, as well as accelerate the development of capability Defence needs to keep Australians safe.  The Defence Legislation Amendment (Accelerating Capability and Protecting Bases)…

Appointment of the National Armaments Director

The Albanese Government has appointed Ms Kellie Parker to the role of National Armaments Director. Ms Parker will be responsible for leading the new Defence Delivery Agency when established on 1 July 2027, with responsibility for delivering acquisition and sustainment projects.  Ms Parker has…

Albanese Government works with public and private sector organisations to strengthen cyber resilience

The Albanese Government is working with public and private sector organisations to strengthen their cyber resilience as the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2025-26 highlights the need for continued vigilance against malicious state actors and cybercriminals…

Australia and Timor-Leste strengthen Defence partnerships with new Defence Cooperation Framework

Australia and Timor-Leste have today signed a new bilateral Defence Cooperation Framework, reinforcing both countries’ shared commitment to peace, security and prosperity in our region. The Defence Cooperation Framework was signed in Dili by Australia's Deputy Prime…

Delivering a PFAS Working Group for Oakey

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to establish a Working Group in Oakey to address issues relating to PFAS contamination from Swartz Barracks.  The Oakey Working Group will bring together government representatives, industry groups, local First Nations groups and members…

Australia and Timor-Leste advance shared security and regional priorities

Australia and Timor-Leste are deepening their partnership through more than $60 million in new Australian investments to strengthen cooperation on security, resilience, and regional engagements. Over the next five years, Australia will support initiatives to strengthen Timor-Leste’s cyber security…

Australian Defence Force opens recruitment to Papua New Guineans

Following the historic signing of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty on 6 October 2025, today we announce that from next month eligible Papua New Guineans will be able to apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF).  A program will start next…

Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum

The Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum will take place in Port Moresby today, bringing ministers together to advance our shared priorities and deepen our partnership. This will be the first Ministerial Forum since Prime Ministers Albanese and Marape announced the entry into force of the…

Australia advances undersea warfare capabilities

The Albanese Government will this week mark a major milestone in the development and testing of advanced undersea warfare capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at Maritime Big Play Pacific – an AUKUS Pillar II exercise – in San Diego. For the first time, the Government is today…

25 years since Australians answered the call in Afghanistan

Today marks 25 years since the commencement of Operation Slipper, Australia’s first military contribution to the war in Afghanistan and the beginning of a significant chapter in our nation’s military history.  In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States,…

Greater recognition for Rifle Company Butterworth veterans

The Australian Government will reclassify service at Butterworth in Malaysia between 1970 and 1989 as ‘non-warlike service’, replacing the previous ‘peacetime service’ classification. This decision acknowledges the unique environment in which Australian Defence Force personnel served while…