Australian News – Page 15

Successful trial of laser marks deepening of Australia-Japan defence collaboration

The Albanese Government has marked a significant milestone in Australia-Japan defence collaboration with successful field trials of a co-developed laser in South Australia.

The Boobook project has broken new ground as the first co-development project between Australian and Japanese defence industries, demonstrating deepening cooperation between our two nations.

The collaboration between Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Mitsubishi Electric Australia (MEA) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) has seen the successful field testing of a world-first prototype laser system.

The laser system draws on more than 20 years of research and development by DSTG to deliver a cutting-edge technology with the potential to enhance surveillance capability.

Boobook supports the implementation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s 4 May announcement, which committed to enhanced defence and security cooperation.

The successful Boobook trials conducted at Cultana Training Area and DSTG Edinburgh have provided valuable insights into the system’s design and technical requirements, informing the next phases of development and commercialisation.

The testing also demonstrated Australia and Japan’s ability to jointly develop advanced technologies and conduct multinational testing on Australian ranges. This paves the way for ongoing defence industrial collaboration on advanced defence capabilities between our two countries.

As the project progresses, MEA is establishing new facilities at Rydalmere, New South Wales in preparation for large-scale manufacturing within Australia.

This $70 million investment will become the home of a new MEA Defence Division, supporting future manufacturing opportunities in Australia and strengthening access to advanced Mitsubishi Electric defence technologies for the Australian Defence Force into the future.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Pat Conroy MP:

“This project demonstrates close collaboration with Japan, to develop cutting-edge technologies that address real capability needs for the Australian Defence Force.

“Boobook is more than a technology project. It is a practical example of the growing defence industrial partnership between Australia and Japan, as well as the opportunities that partnership creates for both nations.

“The establishment of Mitsubishi Electric Australia’s new defence facilities in Rydalmere is a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s defence industrial future and will support new opportunities for advanced manufacturing, technology transfer and workforce growth.”

Statement on Israel closing investigation on strikes against World Central Kitchen

Australia is outraged the Israeli Government has decided not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for killing Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.

The Australian Government learned of Israel’s decision late last night, moments before it was announced, on World Humanitarian Day – which is especially insulting to Zomi’s loved ones, humanitarians and all Australians.

Zomi represented the best of Australia. Her courage deserves to be celebrated. Her family deserves justice.

This decision falls far short of the accountability we expect.

This is despite Israel Defense Forces admissions that the IDF strikes on Zomi and her colleagues’ vehicles were the result of serious failures to follow IDF procedures, mistaken identification and errors in decision-making.

This was confirmed by Special Adviser Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin’s report.

Democracies seek and accept higher standards. The Australian Government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.

I will call in Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman and have directed Australia’s Ambassador to Israel to convey our views directly to Israel as the Australian Government considers next steps.

Stronger safeguards for Foreign Arrangements

The Albanese Government has strengthened and streamlined Australia’s Foreign Arrangements Scheme, with legislation passing the Parliament today to help ensure arrangements are consistent with Australia’s national interest.

The reforms modernise the Scheme, which provides Commonwealth oversight of arrangements entered into by states, territories, local governments and public universities with foreign entities.

The changes more clearly embed the national interest in legislation, improve risk management, and streamline notification requirements. They also capture evolving forms of international engagement, such as arrangements involving overseas campuses of Australian universities.

The reforms implement the recommendations from the 2025 independent review of the Scheme led by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.

The Government recognises concerns regarding researcher-to-researcher collaboration and will require universities to have appropriate policies and processes in place to identify, monitor and manage associated risks.

For the first time, universities will be legally required to assess whether research projects could adversely affect the national interest or be inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy.

The Albanese Government has been consistently clear that universities must play their role in managing risks and this reform will help ensure they do so.

Australia is strongly committed to international education and research cooperation that is consistent with our foreign policy.

These reforms will help keep Australia open to the world while appropriately managing risk and protecting our national interest.

Labor and Coalition to guillotine super-sized ASIO secret interrogation powers

Parliament is set to guillotine the ASIO Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 through the Senate today, super-sizing ASIO’s coercive questioning and detention powers, while media attention is fixed on the government’s NDIS and gambling reform packages.

This deliberate timing is hiding this contentious bill from appropriate scrutiny and meaning the new “politically motivated violence” trigger, which poses a direct threat to the Palestine solidarity movement and protest rights, will sail through before the public catches up.

The Bill has the support of the Labor, Coalition and One Nation who are in lockstep on giving ASIO this unprecedented expansion of powers. The Greens will seek to amend this bill to remove the worst parts of it, and will vote against any expansion of these dangerous laws.

NB in 20003 now Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke against these laws: https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/australian-security-intelligence-organisation-legislation-amendment-terrorism

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Sheobridge

“This is the largest expansion of secret interrogation and detention powers this country has seen in over 2 decades, and the major parties are hoping nobody notices until it’s law.

“They were forced to reinsert a sunset date for these powers after community pressure but we know they want them forever.

“You know a bill is a bad idea if the Government and Coalition want to restrict democratic debate to an hour despite mass opposition from the community and political resistance inside this Parliament.

“Under these laws you can be locked up and interrogated in this country without ever being charged or even suspected of a crime. That should terrify every Australian, not just the ones in the room.

“A fourteen-year-old can be detained and questioned by ASIO with no lawyer and no court oversight and then when released they can’t tell anyone.

Greens say mass closure of for-profit family day care centres more proof the market model is failing

Responding to the closure of 65 Ignite Minds family day care centres across Victoria following an investigation by the Victorian Education and Care Regulatory Authority (VERA), Greens Early Childhood Education and Care spokesperson Senator Steph Hodgins-May said:

“We need to stop pretending that a market designed to prop up private profits can deliver the early learning system children and families deserve.

“Families are getting sick of waking up to another childcare horror story. When will enough be enough?

“While we commend VERA for its investigation and swift action, simply closing centres doesn’t address the root cause of what has gone horribly wrong with early learning in this country.

“The Commonwealth must urgently step in to support the families affected by these closures, who may now be scrambling to find alternative care and support for their children.

“But ultimately, we need a reckoning: the system is broken.

“For-profit providers have been allowed to operate to unsafe standards, putting profits ahead of care and quality education.

“Closing centres when things go wrong and putting out spot fires will never fix the underlying problem or restore families’ trust in the system.

“Families deserve a universal, high-quality and affordable early learning system where they don’t have to go to bed wondering ‘will my childcare centre be in the headlines tomorrow?’

“Until the Albanese Government confronts the fundamental failings of the market model these headlines will keep coming.”

Premier defies police to arm private Jewish Security Group

In Budget Estimates today, the Premier has refused to rule out arming private Jewish individuals in the Community Security Group and disagreed with NSW Police Counter-Terrorism Commander David Hudson’s rejection of arming CSG.

Noting the Community Security Group are already armed in NSW, the Premier declined to commit to a religious-neutral framework for arming private groups. The NSW Police Association has come out against the move.

The Community Security Group has faced questions from ASIO over its links to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, and the Administrative Review Tribunal has upheld suspensions of security clearances of CSG members from the Australian military.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice and solicitor Sue Higginson said “At the same time as the Premier defends his buyback of guns to keep lethal weapons on the streets, he seems determined to put lethal weapons on the streets by arming the private Community Security Group,

“The Police oppose this move, the Police Association opposes this move, and Commissioner Virginia Bell of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, has expressed concerns with this move, but the Premier’s own ideology seems to be overriding these serious public safety considerations,

“The administrative review tribunal has raised concerns that members of the Community Security Group have more allegiance to the foreign government of Israel than to Australia. CSG training courses are undertaken by agencies funded by the Israeli government, there are serious intelligence considerations that the Premier has ignored,

“The Premier’s decision undermines police, public safety and “social cohesion”. If police feel as though it is unsafe to give guns to private Jewish security groups at community events, who does the Premier anticipate will facilitate the use of lethal guns at public events?

“It is time for the Premier to accept the sensible position of the NSW Police and the evidence that guns in the hands of private individuals make nobody safer and will likely sow resentment. Labor Premier Chris Minns needs to put this idea to bed,” Ms Higginson said.

Coalition calls on Prime Minister to scrap veterans’ allied health cap

The Coalition is calling on the Albanese Labor Government to abandon its planned $5,000 annual cap on Veterans’ allied health care before it comes into effect.

The Albanese Government’s 2026–27 Budget imposed an arbitrary $5,000 annual limit on DVA-funded allied health services for Veteran Card holders from 1 July 2027.

The Government has booked $748 million in savings over three years from the measure, rising to around $340 million every year thereafter.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Angus Taylor MP, said the Government had made the wrong choice by looking to cut Veterans’ health care to repair its failed Budget.

“Labor found $748 million for its broken Budget by capping care for the people who served our country,” Mr Taylor said.

“They could have found savings elsewhere. Instead, they chose Veterans to pay the price. There are better places to find Budget savings than the health care of Australians who have worn our nation’s uniform.”

“A Veteran’s treatment should be determined by their health needs and their clinicians, not an arbitrary dollar figure imposed in Canberra.”

“This week Parliament observed Vietnam Veterans’ Day – this was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to reflect and change course, not just for veterans impacted by these cuts but their families as well.”

“The Prime Minister should scrap this cap before it ever comes into effect. I have written to the PM to ask him to think again on this,” Mr Taylor said.

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, said the policy was particularly concerning because those most likely to reach the cap were Veterans with significant and complex health needs.

“By the Government’s own admission, around one in ten Veteran Card holders are expected to reach this cap,” Mr McCormack said.

“These are the very Veterans who may require the greatest level of care.”

“We’ve heard the story of Meg from Sydney who is a Vietnam War Widow. The annual cost of Meg’s care to manage her chronic pain is $11,400 and this support allows her to stay mobile, independent and remain in her own home. Labor’s arbitrary cap unfairly targets widows like Meg and thousands of Veterans families.”

“A Veteran living with a serious physical injury and PTSD should never be forced to choose between seeing their physiotherapist or their psychologist because they have reached an arbitrary government limit.”

“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide made 122 recommendations. A $5,000 cap on Veterans’ allied health care was not one of them,” Mr McCormack said.

Shadow Minister for Defence Industry and Defence Personnel, and former Australian Army soldier Phillip Thompson OAM MP said Veterans had earned the right to know that the health care they need would be there for them.

“No Veteran should be handed a gap payment because a departmental spreadsheet says they have accessed too much health care for injuries or conditions caused by their service,” Mr Thompson said.

“When you ask someone to put on the uniform and serve their country, there is an obligation that comes with that.

“For many Veterans, allied health care is not optional. It is part of how they manage serious injuries, trauma and the consequences of their service every day.

“Lest we forget is not just a slogan for Anzac Day. It is a promise that the Government has an obligation to honour,” Mr Thompson said.

National partnership delivers ACT firearms buyback & stronger community protections

The Albanese Government and Barr Government have reached an agreement to deliver a Gun Buyback Scheme in the ACT following a similar agreement with NSW.

Following the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach last year, National Cabinet stood in solidarity and agreed to action to eradicate antisemitism and to strengthen gun laws across the nation. 

Greater consistency between jurisdictions is important to ensure firearms reforms designed to strengthen community safety and reduce the number of high-risk firearms are effective.

The Commonwealth Government will fund 75 per cent of the compensation and administration costs of the scheme and all firearm destruction costs for the ACT.

There are more than 7,000 firearms licence holders and about 23,000 firearms in the Territory.

Approximately 14 per cent of ACT licence holders may be affected by the proposed firearms cap. Further details will be announced in due course.

In February, the ACT Government introduced the Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026 (Public Safety Bill). The Bill seeks to limit the number of firearms a licensee may possess or use, re-categorise certain firearms, prohibit belt-fed firearms, and create an offence for possession of digital blueprints for the computer-aided manufacture of firearms and firearm parts.

These measures are intended to reduce the capacity for harm caused by the misuse or diversion of firearms to illicit markets and to prevent the proliferation of untraceable and illegal weapons that threaten the security of the ACT community.

The ACT Government has also introduced the Firearms (Firearm Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill 2026.

This Bill seeks to introduce a firearm prohibition order scheme into the ACT to give police additional tools to ensure high-risk individuals do not gain access to firearms.

These Bills are still before the ACT Legislative Assembly and are anticipated to be debated during the spring sittings of the Territory Parliament.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re taking action to strengthen Australia’s gun laws and keep our communities safe.

“National gun reform is an important part of making sure an antisemitic terrorist attack like we saw at Bondi can’t happen again.

“I thank the ACT Government for their collaboration as we work to take guns off our streets in order to better protect Australians.”

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr:

“This agreement strengthens community safety and supports effective firearms reforms across jurisdictions. Reducing the number of high-risk firearms in circulation is a sensible and practical measure to help keep Canberrans safer. Working with the Commonwealth and NSW ensures a more coordinated approach to firearms safety.

“The ACT has some of the strongest firearms laws in the country and this agreement supports our ongoing efforts to further reduce the risk of firearms falling into the wrong hands.

“We recognise that the overwhelming majority of firearm licence holders are responsible and law-abiding citizens. The buyback scheme will provide compensation while helping deliver further community safety outcomes.”

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke:

“After the horrific antisemitic attack at Bondi, our government committed to addressing the motive and the method of the attack.

“Since then we have brought forward the strongest laws against hate speech and hate crimes in the history of our country, and initiated the most significant round of gun reform since the wake of the Port Arthur massacre.”

ACT Minister For Police, Fire And Emergency Services Dr Marisa Paterson:

“We take our responsibility as a government to do everything we can to reduce the risk posed by firearms in the community and keep Canberrans safe. I want to recognise that the majority of firearms owners are responsible and law-abiding, and we acknowledge that the reform agenda is significant.

“We are here to work with the community as we progress through the changes. Once we have finalised the agreement we will provide clear information to the community about the process of the buyback, including eligibility, compensation and the process for surrendering the firearms.

“This will be a major undertaking for ACT Policing and the ACT Government will continue to work to support them as they progress. Work is also continuing to progress on the development of a fully digital ACT Firearms Registry, which will be integrated with the National Firearms Register and will provide frontline police with real-time access to firearms data.”

ACT Policing Chief Police Officer Scott Lee:

“ACT Policing supports an ACT gun buyback scheme and believe it is an important measure to reduce the number of firearms in circulation in the ACT.”

“We know that reducing firearms availability can reduce the risk that firearms will end up in the wrong hands and that legally owned firearms can be stolen and diverted into illicit markets, where they may become available to organised crime or individuals with extremist ideologies.”

Opening of Solomon Islands Western Border Outpost facility

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Solomon Island’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Service, the Hon Francis Sade, officially opened the Western Border Outpost today in the Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands.

The Western Border Outpost is a jointly delivered infrastructure project between the Australian and Solomon Islands governments. This new facility brings together the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Customs, Immigration, and Biosecurity officials in a single location, enhancing interagency coordination and strengthening border management operations that help keep Solomon Islands secure.

Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, the Hon John Tuhaika Jnr., and Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour & Immigration, the Hon Harry Kuma also attended the opening ceremony.

The new facility will support Solomon Islands to strengthen border management and maritime security, marking a significant milestone in the longstanding security partnership between the two nations. Once handed over, this will be a sovereign Solomon Islands facility.

Australia is investing more than $100 million (AUD) towards the project, which will also provide offices, accommodation and a wharf capable of supporting Solomon Islands’ Guardian-class Patrol Boats.

In partnership with the Solomon Islands Government, this project has created lasting benefits for local communities including 368 jobs created and more than 1,000 contracts awarded to local businesses.

Australia is proud to support the broad range of initiatives that strengthen Solomon Islands’ national security capabilities and support the growth of the RSIPF.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“The official opening of the Western Border Outpost marks an important milestone in Australia’s longstanding partnership with Solomon Islands.

“This new facility will support Solomon Islands to strengthen border management and maritime security while delivering real benefits for its people.

“It stands as a practical demonstration of what Australia and Solomon Islands can achieve together and provides a sovereign asset for Solomon Islands to use to strengthen its security.”

Successful trial of high-energy laser marks deepening of Australia-Japan defence collaboration

The Albanese Government has marked a significant milestone in Australia-Japan defence collaboration with successful field trials of a co-developed high-energy laser in South Australia.