Media releases

Reforming Defence legislation to meet Australia's strategic needs

The Albanese Government is today calling for public feedback on key reforms to Defence legislation. The Defence Act 1903, and related legislation, will be amended to better position the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as an agile, integrated, warfighting enterprise. The proposed reforms to the legal…

The first Ocius Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels for the ADF

The Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Pat Conroy MP and Assistant Minister for Defence, The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, have welcomed the arrival of the first Ocius BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) for the Australian Defence Force. The Royal Australian Navy and Defence industry have…

Celebrating Mardi Gras with Defence

For the first time, Defence Ministers will join Defence personnel in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, as part of the Sydney WorldPride festival on Saturday 25 February 2023. Since 2013, Defence personnel have proudly participated in the Parade, demonstrating their commitment to…

Defence lighting the way on renewable energy

The Albanese Labor Government will invest $64 million in the Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program to deliver solar energy generation and battery storage systems at ten Defence sites throughout Australia. Sixty megawatts of solar energy, enough to power the equivalent of about 15,000…

Defence celebrates Indigenous success at Shoalwater Bay

The inaugural class of eight Darumbal trainee rangers have successfully graduated from their year-long traineeship at Defence’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area near Rockhampton, Queensland.  The Ranger Traineeship Program is a joint initiative between Defence, its estate management operations support…

Boosting home ownership for our ADF members and veterans

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering cost of living relief for more Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and veterans with key changes passed today in the Federal Parliament to help them buy their own home. The $46.2 million expansion of the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme will…

Delivering on our commitment to keep Australians safe

The Albanese Government is delivering on its election commitments across the Defence portfolio, which will keep Australia safe. Under the Albanese Government, defence funding will rise to over 2 per cent of GDP over the forward estimates – the highest level in decades. New measures in the 2022-23…

Joint media release - Support to OPCW investigation mandate

Australia has reinforced its support for the vital work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) by signing a Technical Agreement in Canberra today. Director General of the OPCW, Fernando Arias, and Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, signed the…

Australian industry urged to join Defence mission

Australian businesses and industry have the opportunity to participate in the next generation of contracts to deliver base services around Australia and support Defence’s key capabilities. It follows the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for a fourth generation of contracts. Assistant…

Defence rolls out new equipment for ADF personnel

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is rolling out a range of purpose-designed equipment to better serve the needs of individual ADF members and improve combatant effectiveness in the field. The new equipment, being introduced by the Fit to Perform project, includes helmets, boots, packs, uniforms…

Navy partnering with CAE Australia to revolutionise training

The Royal Australian Navy will employ innovative new training systems as part of a plan to grow its workforce to more than 20,000 people by 2040.  The new Navy Training Force Platforms and Systems Training Contract with CAE Australia will deliver essential platform and system training to Navy…

Defence boosts ICT and cyber security capabilities to win in digital age

Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP launched the 2022 Defence Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Strategy and the Defence Cyber Security Strategy at a Defence ICT industry forum today. Assistant Minister Thistlethwaite said a key element of both strategies…