Australia

Coverage of Australian current affairs, defence, policy, and national security.

Australia's 2026 National Defence Strategy — A$425 Billion Investment and Opposition Response Feature Image

Australia's 2026 National Defence Strategy — A$425 Billion Investment and Opposition Response

Summary Australia's 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) represents the most significant shift in Australian defence policy in decades, committing a record A$425 billion over the next decade to modernise the Australian Defence Force amid what the government describes as the most dangerous strategic environment since World War

· 5 min
RBC Projects 6% Australian Inflation by June 2026: Outlier Forecast Exposes Entrenched Price Risks Feature Image

RBC Projects 6% Australian Inflation by June 2026: Outlier Forecast Exposes Entrenched Price Risks

Summary The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has projected that Australian headline inflation would reach 6% by June 2026, a figure notably higher than forecasts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and other major institutions. RBC’s analysis attributes this surge to a convergence of domestic and global factors,

· 4 min
Japan and Australia Finalize $7 Billion Mogami-Class Frigate Deal Feature Image

Japan and Australia Finalize $7 Billion Mogami-Class Frigate Deal

Summary Australia and Japan formalized a landmark defense agreement in April 2026 for the supply of upgraded Mogami-class frigates to the Royal Australian Navy, valued at approximately A$10 billion (US$7 billion). The deal, signed in Melbourne by Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Koizumi Shinjiro, represents

· 3 min
Australian Army and Navy Advance Drone and Autonomous Warfare Strategies Feature Image

Australian Army and Navy Advance Drone and Autonomous Warfare Strategies

Summary The Australian Army’s release of the Drone Tactics Handbook and Unit Guide to sUAS Operations in April 2026 marks a pivotal advancement in the institutionalization of drone warfare within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Drone Tactics Handbook provides practical, combat-focused guidance for employing small uncrewed aerial systems

· 4 min
Massive Fire at Viva Energy Geelong Refinery Halts Operations Feature Image

Massive Fire at Viva Energy Geelong Refinery Halts Operations

Summary A major fire erupted at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, Victoria, on the night of April 15, 2026, triggering a significant emergency response and raising immediate concerns about regional fuel supply. The Geelong facility, which processes approximately 120,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is one of

· 2 min
ASIO Amendment Bill No. 2 Nears Final Passage as Australia Weighs Security Powers Against Civil Liberties Feature Image

ASIO Amendment Bill No. 2 Nears Final Passage as Australia Weighs Security Powers Against Civil Liberties

Summary The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 is nearing final passage in Parliament, with the House of Representatives approving the legislation in February 2026 and the Senate now preparing for an imminent vote. The bill seeks to make ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers permanent, removing the

· 4 min