Senator Moves to Uncover Australia’s Role in Global Pathogen Research
Following ODNI's COVID-19 declassification, an Australian senator moves to uncover government records on gain-of-function and lab research.
Australia
Coverage of Australian current affairs, defence, policy, and national security.
Australia’s Populist Surge: Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Reshaping Politics
One Nation surges to 31% in polls, reshaping Australian politics with a platform of immigration caps, housing, and economic nationalism.
QUAD Foreign Ministers Unveil Comprehensive Security and Development Agenda
Summary The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), comprising the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, convened its Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 26, 2026, in New Delhi. The session produced a comprehensive suite of new and expanded initiatives focused on maritime surveillance, critical infrastructure protection, energy security, emerging technologies, and humanitarian
Arrests Made as ‘ISIS Brides’ and Children Return to Australia
Summary Four Australian women and nine children with links to the Islamic State (ISIS) arrived in Australia on May 7, 2026, after years in Syrian detention. The women, often referred to as “ISIS brides,” left Australia between 2014 and 2017 to join or support partners fighting for ISIS in Syria.
Royal Commission Inquiry: Interim Report on Bondi Attack Released
Summary A terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, left 15 people dead and at least 49 injured during a Hanukkah celebration, with authorities attributing the act to antisemitic motives inspired by Islamic State. In response, the Australian Government established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion,
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
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,
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,
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
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
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