All releases

Joint Statement, Australia-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting

18 April 2026, Melbourne, Australia  The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, the Hon. Richard Marles MP, and the Minister of Defense of Japan, Koizumi Shinjiro, met in Melbourne to discuss the development of the Australia-Japan defence partnership and mark a…

Australia locks in delivery of our first three general purpose frigates

The Albanese Government has taken a major step towards delivering a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet with contracts now signed for Australia’s first three general purpose frigates. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the ships will be of the upgraded Japanese Mogami class…

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…

Joint Press Conference, Viva Refinery, Geelong

SUBJECTS: Geelong Refinery Incident; National Fuel Security Plan; US Relationship; Middle East Conflict. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Welcome everyone today to the Viva refinery in Corio. Obviously, we wish we were here under better circumstances, but we are very pleased to have…

Radio Interview, 5AA Mornings

SUBJECTS: 2026 National Defence Strategy and 2026 Integrated Investment Program; Middle East Conflict. GRAEME GOODINGS, HOST: Joining us now is the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. Deputy Prime Minister, good morning. Thanks for your time today. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY…

Radio Interview, 3AW Mornings

SUBJECTS: Geelong Viva Refinery Fire; Fuel Supply TOM ELLIOTT, HOST: The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the MP for Corio, where the damaged fuel refinery is, Richard Marles, joins us now. Mr Marles, good morning. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Tom. How are you? ELLIOTT…

Radio Interview, ABC RN Breakfast

SUBJECTS: 2026 National Defence Strategy and 2026 Integrated Investment Program; Middle East Conflict; Geelong Viva Refinery Fire SALLY SARA, HOST: Richard Marles, welcome back to Breakfast. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sally, how are you? SARA: Very well, thank you. Donald…

Television Interview, Today Show

SUBJECTS: Geelong Viva Refinery Fire; Fuel Supply SARAH ABO, HOST: Deputy PM, thanks so much for your time this morning. Geelong is of course your patch. This is a disaster for Australia's fuel supply, isn't it?

Radio Interview, ABC Melbourne Mornings

SUBJECTS: Geelong Refinery Incident; Fuel Security; Defence Funding.  WALEED ALY, HOST: Richard Marles is the Member for Corio. So, this is his local patch. He also happens to be the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister. So he's got a lot to talk about and he's with us now.…

Television Interview, Sky News First Edition

SUBJECTS: Geelong Viva Refinery Fire; Fuel Supply; 2026 National Defence Strategy and 2026 Integrated Investment Program ALEX THOMAS, HOST: Let's speak to the man who announced Australia's latest defence budget, our Deputy PM and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles. Minister Marles, thanks for your…

Television Interview, ABC News Breakfast

SUBJECTS: Geelong Viva Refinery Fire; Fuel Supply; Middle East Conflict  JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: We're joined now by the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who's also the Defence Minister, and is also a Geelong local. Richard, welcome back to the program. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME…

Television Interview, Sunrise

SUBJECTS: Geelong Viva Refinery Fire; Fuel Supply NATALIE BARR, HOST: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles joins us live in Geelong. Good morning to you. The Prime Minister has flown home early because of this refinery fire. How serious is the situation?