May
NZ government cuts taxes even as deficit widens
The tax cuts are almost identical to the pledge Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National Party campaigned on ahead of the October election.
- Matthew Brockett
- Opinion
- AUKUS
Here are the facts about Australia’s nuclear submarine program
The frequent negativity among Australian commentators is detached from the reality of the success to date of the plan’s progress, and the wider strategic reasons for the project. Here are the facts.
- Jennifer Parker
- Exclusive
- Defence spending
Questions surface over fast-tracked $10b warships
Shipbuilders have been given just three weeks to outline their opening pitch to build new frigates for the navy.
- Andrew Tillett
Sunak pledges mandatory national service in UK election ploy
Compulsory work for 18-year-olds would provide “opportunities” and “experience”, the prime minister says, as the Tories try to differentiate themselves from Labour.
- Camilla Turner
China sends warships, jets to ‘punish’ Taiwan
Chinese fighter jets have carried live missiles and warships encircled Taiwan in a show of force to “punish” the self-ruled democracy’s new president.
- Andrew Tillett and Jessica Sier
Australia won’t raid Pacific militaries to plug defence gaps: Conroy
Plans to recruit Pacific Islanders to join the Australian Defence Force are focusing on attracting school leavers with the offer of learning a trade.
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- Federal budget
The ADF will grow by just 358 people next year. That’s a big problem
If Defence is to attract the 5000 new soldiers, sailors and aviators it desperately needs, it must do a much better job looking after its current ones.
- Andrew Tillett
Defence’s big budget boost four years away, as soldier shortage hits 5000
Despite dire strategic times, defence spending will hover just above 2 per cent for several years before starting to meaningfully rise from mid-2027.
- Andrew Tillett
Congress fights to reverse funding cuts for AUKUS subs deal
Draft legislation released this week shows Congress is ready to fight to restore funding for building Virginia-class submarines, essential for the success of AUKUS.
- Matthew Cranston
- Exclusive
- Australia's China challenge
Meet Taiwan’s ‘matchmaker’ for Australian business
As Taiwan prepares to welcome a new president and bolster economic ties with Australia, the self-ruled island’s envoy issues a warning over Chinese coercion.
- Andrew Tillett
Military tensions flare on the road to stability with China
A near miss between a Chinese fighter jet and Australian helicopter show that friction remains despite improvement in ties between Beijing and Canberra.
- Andrew Tillett
China wrong on defence flare stoush: Albanese
Beijing now says an Australian navy helicopter was spying on its military in the Yellow Sea.
- Andrew Tillett
Beijing blames ‘provocative move’ for helicopter flare incident
Stabilisation of ties between Canberra and Beijing suffered a setback after a Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian navy helicopter.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
Navy helicopter near miss in latest Chinese confrontation
Australian personnel had to take evasive action when their helicopter was confronted by a Chinese fighter jet.
- Andrew Tillett
Backers of takeover target Austal want Hanwha in the race
Austal shareholders say the opening shots in takeover battle for the defence ship builder have fallen well short of the mark, but granting due diligence would be a start.
- Brad Thompson
Australia, US, Japan, Philippines vow to step up military drills
Four way defence ministers meeting in Hawaii raise concerns over China’s clashes with Filipino ships in South China Sea.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- AUKUS
How to make sure JAUKUS is a success
It’s a no-brainer to bring Japanese technology into AUKUS pillar 2. But it needs to take account of Tokyo’s inexperience and concerns about high-level military co-operation.
- Shingo Yamagami and Paul Maley
- Exclusive
- Defence spending
Hanwha could face long wait for answer on Austal bid
The Albanese government is likely to prioritise picking a new frigate design over considering a foreign takeover bid for the Perth shipbuilder.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Opinion
Minimise capability gap while waiting for the new fleet to surface
Ten years from now, Australia will have its most potent navy in decades. In the interim, it will have the least capable in more than half a century.
- Jennifer Parker
- Exclusive
- Foreign relations
‘No concerns’ with South Korean takeover bid for Austal: Marles
Defence Minister Richard Marles has given a fillip to Hanwha’s bid to buy Perth shipbuilder Austal, despite the deal raising security concerns.
- Andrew Tillett and Brad Thompson
