Media releases

15th Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will today welcome the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP and Secretary of State for Defence the Rt Hon John Healey MP to Sydney…

Accelerating the acquisition of drone and counter drone technology

The Albanese Government is accelerating the acquisition of cutting-edge drone and counter-drone technologies for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to keep Australian’s safe and protect our military assets. Just four months after the announcement of Project LAND 156, the Albanese Government has…

M1A1 Abrams tanks delivered to Ukraine

The Albanese Government continues its steadfast support for Ukraine, with the transfer of the first tranche of Australian-gifted M1A1 Abrams tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In response to a request from the Government of Ukraine, Australia is providing 49 Abrams tanks to help bolster its…

Recognising Operational Service in the Indo-Pacific

The ship’s company of HMAS Stuart has today been recognised, with approximately 150 personnel among the first in the nation to receive the Australian Operational Service Medal (AOSM) – Indo-Pacific, during a ceremony at Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia.  This is the Australian Defence…

Strengthening Defence's space edge

For the first time, the Australian Defence Force will establish a purpose-built space workforce.  The 2024 Defence Workforce Plan highlighted the need to recruit and retain highly‑specialised personnel for emerging capabilities, including space.  To meet the demands of the evolving space…

Investiture of the Victoria Cross for Private Richard Norden

The Victoria Cross for Australia has been formally presented to the family of the late Private Richard Norden, in recognition for his bravery and dedication to service during the Vietnam War. Private Norden’s gallantry during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral in Vietnam in 1968 has never been…

Albanese Government enhances national security with major investment in air defence and aerial strike

The Albanese Government is investing up to $2.12 billion in additional stocks of advanced medium-range missiles to strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s air defence and aerial strike capability.  These AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 missiles can precisely strike targets at extended range,…

Public consultation opens for the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations

The Albanese Government is taking an important step as part of Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.  Today, public consultation has opened on the regulatory framework that will underpin Australia’s Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator.  This is…

Navy introduces new capability with commissioning of HMAS Arafura

Today marks a major milestone of the Australian Government’s implementation of the Surface Fleet Review with the commissioning of HMAS Arafura into the Royal Australian Navy fleet.  HMAS Arafura is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Navy’s surface fleet. …

Albanese Government support for Austal's United States expansion

The Albanese Government welcomes Export Finance Australia’s credit approved loan facility of up to US$150 million to shipbuilder Austal to help it expand its shipyard in Alabama in the United States.  Austal is an Australian success story, and support from Export Finance Australia will help it…

Albanese Government supporting Pacific partners through investment in regional maritime security

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to double funding for the aerial surveillance component of the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). The PMSP aerial surveillance program supports maritime security for our Pacific partners through the provision of fixed-…

Australia deepens collaboration with NATO and takes further action to hold Russia to account

The Albanese Government is deepening Australia’s cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and taking further action to support Ukraine and hold Russia to account for its illegal and immoral war. During the NATO Leaders’ Summit in The Hague, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister…