Category: Australian News

Today, the Albanese Government has released the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program. 

Together, these documents set out the Government’s plan to respond to our strategic circumstances and keep Australians safe. 

In delivering the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, the Albanese Government continues its structured approach of identifying the capabilities we need and funding them appropriately. 

In recognition of our dangerous and unpredictable strategic circumstances, the 2026 Integrated Investment Program includes an additional $14 billion over the next four years, and an additional $53 billion over the decade, through Defence funding, estate modernisation and alternative financing where appropriate. As a result, Defence spending as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will rise to 3 per cent by 2033 under the NATO approach. 

The Albanese Government’s record increase in Defence investment coincides with major reforms, including the establishment of the Defence Delivery Agency and the Government’s response to the Estate Audit, to ensure every dollar of investment is focused on value for money and greater speed to capability.

Not only are these investments acquiring and sustaining the capabilities needed to keep Australians safe, they are also supporting tens of thousands of highly skilled, well-paid Australian jobs directly and across supply chains. 

2026 National Defence Strategy

The inaugural National Defence Strategy delivered in 2024 identified that Australia’s strategic environment was deteriorating and that our nation faced the most challenging circumstances since the Second World War.

It set out, for the first time, the concept of National Defence and adopted the Strategy of Denial as the cornerstone of Defence planning. 

The 2026 National Defence Strategy builds on these foundations by: 

1.    increasing efforts to develop greater self-reliance; 
2.    prioritising capability acquisition and sustainment plans, drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East;
3.    strengthening the resilience of Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base and building stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships; 
4.    improving national civil preparedness and resilience to help Australia manage and recover from regional or global disruption; and
5.    increasing coordination with regional partners to strengthen and preserve the global rules based order. 

The 2026 National Defence Strategy puts Australia on a path to strengthen our self reliance; it reinforces the industrial foundations needed for National Defence; and it situates Australia firmly within a network of trusted regional partnerships. 

Above all, it ensures Australia remains secure, sovereign and ready — not just for today’s challenges, but into the future.

2026 Integrated Investment Program

The Albanese Government has allocated $425 billion over the decade to deliver accelerated capability for the integrated, focused force – to increase the ADF’s self-reliance and contribute to regional deterrence.

The 2026 Integrated Investment Program prioritises investment to:

1.    deliver an enhanced undersea warfare capability, supported by a sovereign fleet of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines;
2.    accelerate the delivery of more lethal maritime capabilities;
3.    further expand long-range strike capabilities across the integrated, focused force;
4.    accelerate the introduction of integrated air and missile defence capabilities;
5.    expand the adoption of autonomous and uncrewed systems across the land, air and maritime domains;
6.    field counter-uncrewed air systems to protect Australian sites, events and critical infrastructure; and 
7.    deliver a resilient and secure multi-orbit satellite communications system. 

These investments, including the additional $53 billion in new funding over the decade, will also strengthen the resilience of our sovereign defence industrial base, create and sustain Australian jobs, and build stronger, more diverse international industrial partnerships and supply chains. 

The 2026 Integrated Investment Program also includes targeted investments to increase preparedness and resilience to ensure the ADF is postured and prepared today to respond to unforeseen events tomorrow. 

Throughout all of this, the Albanese Government continues to invest in Defence’s most important capability — its people. Recruitment, retention, training and skilling are central to delivering on the concept of National Defence. The 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program continue the important work of growing and retaining our Defence Force. 

As a Defence enterprise, there is no more important or consequential task than defending Australia and protecting the security, interests and livelihoods of every Australian. 

The work the ADF and their enabling APS colleagues perform directly supports this mission and we thank them, and their families for their continued commitment and service. 

Copies of the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program are available online at https://www.defence.gov.au/nds

We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, call for the inclusion of Lebanon in the regional de-escalation efforts and urge all parties to work toward a lasting political solution. The continuation of the war in Lebanon puts at risks the current regional deescalation, which we have welcomed and must be fully respected by all parties.

We welcome the initiative by President Aoun to open direct talks with Israel and the acceptance by Israel to start the talks facilitated by the United States. We call on both parties to seize this opportunity. Direct negotiations can pave the way to bring lasting security for Lebanon and Israel as well as the region. We stand ready to support them. We therefore call upon all parties to urgently deescalate and seize the opportunity offered by the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

We condemn in the strongest terms the attacks of Hezbollah against Israel which must cease immediately. We also condemn in the strongest terms the massive Israeli strikes on Lebanon conducted on 8 April which, according to the latest information shared by the Lebanese authorities, resulted in the death of more than 350 persons and wounded more than 1000. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.  

We also condemn in the strongest terms the attacks against UNIFIL and we reiterate that the safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be ensured at all times.  

We express our full solidarity and our steadfast support for the Lebanese people and authorities. We stand ready to provide emergency assistance to the more than one million displaced persons in Lebanon, in coordination with the Lebanese government.

We reaffirm the importance of respecting for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). We will continue to support the Lebanese state to exercise its full sovereignty over the whole Lebanese territory. In this context, we commend the decision of the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military activities, as well as its decision to reinforce the full imposition of state authority over Beirut and to have the sole monopoly on weapons, and we encourage full and swift implementation.

The Victorian Greens are calling on the Allan Labor Government to immediately introduce laws to cap political donations ahead of Victoria’s state election in November as the High Court has ruled that Labor’s existing donation laws are unconstitutional. 

The Victorian Greens say that Labor has botched these donation laws from the start by including a sneaky loophole that allows Labor and Liberals to collect millions of extra dollars through their ‘nominated entity’ slush funds. 

This dodgy loophole has caused the High Court to throw out Victoria’s donation laws entirely, meaning Victoria now has no cap on donations from corporations and billionaires to elections, putting our democracy at risk and allowing big money from the likes of Gina Rhinehart, the gambling and fossil fuel industry to flow to Labor, Liberals and One Nation.

The Greens say that immediate action must be taken, otherwise Labor is allowing big corporations and billionaire donations to influence the state’s election later this year. 

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“In Labor’s desperate attempt to cling onto their political slush funds, Labor have completely botched these donation laws. As a result, the Victorian state election this November could be influenced by multi-million dollar donations from big corporations, Gina Rinehart and other billionaires who want to buy our democracy for their own gain.”

“If Labor doesn’t take immediate action to cap donations to political parties, they’re giving big corporate interests and billionaires free reign to influence this year’s state election. We cannot afford to have a system like the United States where billionaires and big corporations can buy politicians and elections.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles today used his National Press Club address to launch Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy, a document billed as a landmark reset of Australia’s defence posture. It was anything but, it has Labor doubling down on its dependency on the US, while applying tricky accounting on defence numbers to placate the Murdoch media and the increasingly volatile US leadership.

Greens Senator and Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge: 

“It is astonishing that nowhere in his “landmark” defence speech did Defence Minister Richard Marles even mention Donald Trump or the chaotic behaviour of the US and its military. That tells you everything about how detached this strategy is from the world we actually live in.

“Minister Marles has looked at the last twelve months of global chaos and decided China is the main threat to peace. Someone should check if he owns a television.

“Minister Marles still talks of “impactful projection” with his plan to project Australian military force anywhere on the planet to police global trade. This is a foolish and dangerous strategy that inevitably embeds us into global US military deployments.

“At its core this new strategy is doubling down on the US alliance, while still pretending it is based on a “shared commitment to rules, sovereignty and self respect.” You can only deliver this message if you actively ignore all the evidence of the US actively trashing international law and peaceful norms. 

“For all the trumpeting of increased spending it’s worth noting it’s primarily delivered by an accounting trick where defence pensions get rebadged as defence spending and most of actual budget increases are being sunk straight into the AUKUS submarine black hole. 

“This current strategy is a frantic attempt to convince News Corp and the US leadership of our unquestioning loyalty, it has nothing to do with pivoting towards a genuinely sovereign defence force that would protect us here at home. 

“The US is an increasingly rogue actor pursuing its own interests, not ours and any rational review of national defence needs to acknowledge this. 

“Real human security means investment in defensive capacity plus investment in renewable energy, housing, health and education. The things that actually keep Australians safe.”

New data released today shows Labor has no plan to address Australia’s migration crisis.

ABS data published today reveals 1,154,000 permanent and long-term arrivals to Australia over the year to February 2026.

In 2026 we are seeing the highest levels of annual arrivals on record in fifty years (since 1976).

Permanent and long-term departures over the same period were just 675,000 resulting in net permanent and long-term arrivals of 479,000.

Under this Labor Government net permanent and long-term arrivals have risen and been consistently between 400,000-500,000 per annum – and only showing signs of stabilising at this elevated level.

Under the Coalition Government (2013- 2022) net permanent and long-term arrivals were consistently around or below 300,000 per annum.

“These figures confirm what Australians already know: Labor has lost control of our migration program,” Mr Taylor said.

“Numbers are too high, standards are too low, and the national interest has been left behind.

“Australia’s migration system must serve Australians first. That is why the Coalition will put Australian values at the heart of our immigration policy, restoring integrity, strengthening social cohesion, and protecting our way of life.”

“Migration should strengthen our nation, not strain it. We will lower the numbers, lift the standards, and ensure every decision is guided by our values, our interests, and our future prosperity.”

“Labor is not taking responsibility for the broken migration system that is in urgent need of reform,” Senator Duniam said.

“There are too many overstayers and the Government hasn’t been able to assure that those coming in are committed to Australian values. On top of that, the Government is not building enough houses or adequately expanding our services to keep up with demand.”

“The system has to be more targeted than what we have seen under this Government. They have to do better so that current and future Australians can enjoy a standard of living that should be expected in our country.”

The Coalition’s Australian Values Migration Plan will protect Australians’ way of life and restore integrity to our migration system.

Our plan will lift standards and reduce numbers to ensure migration serves Australia’s national interest by:

Putting Australian Values First – placing Australian values at the centre of our migration laws and ensuring our system always prioritises Australians.

Shutting the Door to System Abuse – cracking down on unfounded asylum claims and preventing people from remaining in Australia illegally.

Showing a Red Light to Radicals – strengthening security screening to stop terrorist sympathisers and high-risk individuals from entering our country.

A Coalition Government will also enshrine Australian values in law by making adherence to the Australian Values Statement a binding condition of every visa.

Malaysia and Australia are deeply connected and share a longstanding friendship supported by our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

We have a common interest in ensuring our region’s prosperity, security, stability and economic future. Our close relationship is grounded in strategic trust, and a mutual commitment to open markets and rules-based trade.

Australia and Malaysia share deep concern over the conflict in the Middle East, its escalation and the consequences for our region, including the impact on energy supply chains, prices and flows of essential energy supplies such as the oil and natural gas value chains.

We recognise the complementarity of our trade and economic partnership and the role our countries play in each other’s energy security. Both countries serve as energy suppliers to one another, underpinning a mutually important energy security relationship.

In this context, we affirm our shared commitment to open, rules-based trade in energy products. We commit to promote open and stable trade flows between our two countries, including for essential energy supplies. We will exchange views on energy trade-related matters on a ‘no surprises’ basis, and deepen practical cooperation on energy security for both countries to achieve shared goals.

We are also committed to working together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience, including by deepening regional cooperation, supporting energy transition and promoting the uptake of renewable energy resources.

Open and resilient global energy supplies remain deeply important to the security and prosperity of our peoples, and we will continue to consult on developments that may affect energy supply and markets.

 The Albanese Labor Government has secured approximately 100 million litres of additional diesel for Australians, with two shipments coming from Brunei and South Korea.

This is the first of the expected shipments of fuel secured under the Government’s new Strategic Reserve powers.

Under these new powers, Export Finance Australia (EFA) has partnered with Viva Energy to make this purchase of more than 570,000 barrels of additional diesel possible.  

EFA has also agreed to commercial terms with Ampol, Park Fuels, and IOR. These agreements are supporting them to purchase the additional fuel needed to address regional shortages and critical supply gaps. 

Additional fuel can be directed to where it is needed most, including to our farmers, to our regional communities, and to the services that all Australians rely on.

The Government is only helping to acquire additional supply valuable for Australia’s fuel security, where it would be cost prohibitive for private suppliers to source on commercial terms without government support.

The Albanese Government is protecting Australians from the worst of this global challenge by securing the fuel needed to keep our nation and our people moving. 

the Prime Minister

“This agreement strengthens Australia’s fuel security by ensuring additional cargoes are delivered to the domestic market when and where they are needed most.

“We’re taking every practical measure required to shield our nation and household budgets from the worst of this global uncertainty.”

Minister Farrell

“We know that the impacts of this conflict will be with us for some time, and we are taking every possible step to secure what Australians need to keep our country moving.”

“Our Strategic Reserve powers go further than fuel, they will secure the supply of strategic materials that are vital to our economy, including fertiliser and other goods impacted by the current conflict in the Middle East.”

Minister Bowen

“We are working with industry to shield Australians from global uncertainty and keep our nation moving.”

“These cargoes are additional to existing contracted supply, are required to remain in Australia and will be directed to the industries and regions which need them the most.”

Politicians need to do their job and repeal bad laws so good people don’t have to go to court and fight for the obvious.

Farcical gender fluid provisions in federal and state laws must be urgently repealed in the wake of today’s Federal Court’s ruling in favour of the Lesbian Action Group.

Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton said the case exposed the “legal absurdity” created by laws that blur the definition of sex and force women to fight for basic rights in court.

Women should not need lawyers to hold women-only events. This nonsense must end,” Mr Shelton said.

The Sex Discrimination Act — along with state anti-discrimination laws — has been corrupted by gender identity ideology. These provisions must be repealed to restore freedom of speech, freedom of association and legal clarity.”

The Federal Court found errors in the earlier refusal to grant the Lesbian Action Group an exemption to hold events for “lesbians born female only”, with the matter now to be reconsidered.

Mr Shelton said the fact such an exemption was needed at all showed how far the law had drifted from reality.

Sex is biological and immutable. The law should reflect that — not force women into costly legal battles just to define who they are.”

Mr Shelton also criticised Equality Australia, the political lobby group of which the Governor-General Sam Mostyn is co-patron, for continuing to oppose women’s right to exclude biological males from female-only spaces.

An Equality Australia spokesperson is backing on-going legal action against the lesbians despite their win.

Politicians’ failure to is why Family First is running candidates in NSW, Victoria and the Farrer by-election — to restore common sense and stand up for women and girls.”

Until these laws are fixed, the courts will remain a battleground — and women will keep paying the price.”

The Australian Government is pleased to recommend to Her Excellency, the Governor General, a number of senior command changes within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Subject to the Governor General’s consideration and approval, these changes will take effect from July 2026.

The Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO RAN will be appointed as the Chief of the Defence Force.

Vice Admiral Hammond has had a distinguished career, spanning 40 years, in the Royal Australian Navy serving in frigates, and extensively in and later commanding submarines and the Australian Fleet. Appointed the Chief of Navy in 2022, Vice Admiral Hammond will continue to bring valuable insight to the role of the Chief of the Defence Force – including towards Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines through AUKUS, and the delivery of Navy’s future surface combatant fleet.

The Government extends its deepest gratitude and thanks to the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN. Admiral Johnston will retire with the change in command in July.

Admiral Johnston has served in the ADF for over 48 years, in both Navy and joint appointments. As the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, he was instrumental to the design of Australia’s future force and the subsequent ADF implementation of the 2024 National Defence Strategy. Admiral Johnston has also provided long-term leadership to ADF operations as the Chief of Joint Operations and as the Chief of Defence Force.

He is the longest serving ADF officer at the three and four-star ranks, and we congratulate him, and his family, for this tremendous achievement.

The Chief of Joint Capabilities, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle AM CSC DSM, will be appointed as the new Chief of Army.

Enlisting as a soldier in the Army Reserves in 1987, Lieutenant General Coyle has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic levels and in command roles, including Head Information Warfare, Commander Forces Command, Commander Joint Task Force 633, Commander 6th Brigade, Commander Task Group Afghanistan and Commanding Officer 17th Signal Regiment. Lieutenant General Coyle will be the first woman in our nation’s history to command the Australian Army.

The Government extends its sincere appreciation to the retiring Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart AO DSC. Lieutenant General Stuart has served with great distinction and leadership across the Army – most notably as the first Chief of Army to begin his career as a soldier. Lieutenant General Stuart has been key to preparing the Army for the changes required to the force following the 2024 National Defence Strategy.

The next Chief of Joint Capabilities will be appointed in due course.

Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley AM CSC RAN will be appointed on promotion as the Chief of Navy.

Rear Admiral Buckley has served in Oberon and Collins class submarines, including commanding HMAS Collins and commanding the Submarine Force. He was the Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability at the Australian Submarine Agency, before becoming Deputy Chief of Navy in January 2025. This experience places Rear Admiral Buckley in a unique position to lead the Royal Australian Navy and its people over the coming years as it continues its vital contributions to the peace, safety and stability of the Indo Pacific region.  

These statutory appointments will be presented to the Federal Executive Council.

The Government extends its sincere gratitude to Admiral Johnston and Lieutenant General Stuart, and their families, for their longstanding commitment to the defence of Australia, their service to country and their lasting contribution to the ADF.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Australian Defence Force is tireless in its efforts to keep Australians safe – and I am so pleased to announce these new appointments.

“From July we will have the first ever female Chief of Army in the Australian Army’s 125 year history.

“I thank the outgoing Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army for their service, and wish them well in their retirement.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“It is an honour to confirm these senior appointments to lead the Australian Defence Force. I know that in these roles, each of them will continue to make an enormous contribution to the safety and security of Australia, and I look forward to working with them to do so.

“My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Admiral David Johnston who has led the Australian Defence Force for the past two years with enormous impact, implementing some of the most significant and consequential decisions in decades – including Defence’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide, driving AUKUS and the transformation of our Navy, and working with international partners to build our defence relationships.

“I would also like to personally thank Lieutenant General Simon Stuart for his contributions to the Australian Army at such a consequential time, and wish him and his family all the best as he retires.” 

The first Australian-made Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles have been successfully test-fired at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia.

The successful firing expands the long-range strike capability of the Australian Army and demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to building the nation’s sovereign defence industry.

The surface-to-surface missile is capable of precisely striking targets beyond traditional artillery range. It is launched from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) that has been acquired under the Australian Army’s long-range fires program.

Importantly, Australian-made GMLRS missiles will provide a pathway for future long‑range fires munitions – such as the Precision Strike Missile and hypersonic weapons – to be locally manufactured. 

This test-firing follows the December 2025 opening of a new dedicated facility at Port Wakefield, South Australia. 

Australian suppliers will be progressively introduced into the GMLRS supply chain thanks to the Albanese Government’s $320 million commitment to uplift local companies to manufacture GMLRS components.

This is the third live-fire conducted by Australian HIMARS since their delivery in March 2025, demonstrating the accelerated delivery and training systems in place to achieve initial operational capability.

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“Making missiles in Australia is central to Australia’s national defence resilience.

“Australia is now the only country outside the United States to make the GMLRS missile, providing opportunities for Australian industry to enter into global supply chains.

“This successful test-firing is a major milestone for Australia’s sovereign guided weapons capability, demonstrating concrete progress in strengthening our national self‑reliance and delivering a defence future made in Australia.”