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Hundreds of Australian soldiers, troops from the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) and US Marines have started a major warfighting exercise at Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Running until the 27th of May, Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a trilateral training activity designed to enhance warfighting interoperability, strengthen international relationships and improve combat readiness.

Commander of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, says the combined arms activity will feature infantry live fire and tank integration

“Exercise Southern Jackaroo is a great example of how our regional partners integrate with Australian forces to conduct realistic combat team training for combat operations,” Brigadier Say said. 

“Our combined capability to coordinate ground forces demonstrates adaptability and interoperability that can be applied to disaster relief or warfighting operations.”

Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) Commanding Officer, Colonel Christopher Steele, said Southern Jackaroo builds on past activities and enhances collective strength.

“MRF-D is excited to continue the outstanding tradition of Southern Jackaroo alongside our trusted Australian and Japanese allies,” Colonel Steele said.

“We are looking forward to enhancing our combined interoperability and developing our relationships.”  

JGSDF Training Unit Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryozo Asano said it was a great honour to have the opportunity to participate in a trilateral exercise between Japan, the United States and Australia.

“Considering the current world situation, the trilateral exercise is very significant, and it is very useful for improving the capability of units and all soldiers,” Lieutenant Colonel Asano said.

Exercise Southern Jackaroo will feature around 400 soldiers from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), 190 from the MRF-D and 70 from the JGSDF.

Up to 2,200 MRF-D personnel will conduct combined training with the ADF this year, with Exercise Southern Jackaroo forming part of a series of warfighting training activities.

The MRF-D is part of the US force posture initiatives which were expanded at AUSMIN 2021 to include enhanced air cooperation, enhanced maritime cooperation, enhance land cooperation and the establishment of a combined logistics, sustainment, and maintenance enterprise.

The Australian Greens will move in the next parliament to establish an Independent Debates Commission to oversee live television election debates, with last night’s leaders’ debate once again proving to be a farce.

Greens spokesperson for media and communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Last night’s debate was woeful and a disservice to voters.

“Those of us who suffered through it watched two grown men – so-called leaders – shouting at each other, interrupting, smirking and aggressively talking over the top of others including the female moderator.

“Australians shouldn’t be subjected to this unseemly squabble again. An election debate should be a contest of ideas and vision for our country, not chest-thumping.

“We need an Independent Debates Commission that oversees the official election debate. I will move for this in the new parliament. 

“The decision making over election debates must be taken out of the hands of political parties and politicians. Each election we go through this farce. Parliament simply needs to agree to having an independent umpire, and not have the negotiating over the rules by the parties on the eve of the election.

“The nation’s official election debate should be on the nation’s public broadcaster. Instead, Morrison has once again snubbed the public broadcaster in favour of Murdoch’s Sky News and Channel Nine.

“As the only minor party, the Greens should also be represented in a leaders’ debate. With the Greens included, we would also get a guaranteed debate about climate and environment policy, unlike last night.”

The Greens have called on the Morrison Government to intervene and rule out using explosives on protected seals during its three-year trial of fish farms in Commonwealth waters.  

The call comes following the release of Government data which revealed Huon Aquaculture used more than 8057 underwater explosives against seals in the 15 months to the end of March.

Seals in Commonwealth waters are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. It is an offence to kill, injure or move them without a permit.

The Greens will be writing to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Commonwealth Environment Department to seek advice on this matter.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Whish-Wilson said: 

“The big salmon companies – including Huon Aquaculture, Tassal, and Petuna – should voluntarily stop this practice, it shouldn’t be up to the community to force this issue. 

“If JBS wants to get off on the right foot with Tasmanians then Huon Aquaculture should lead by example and immediately and publicly declare an end to this barbaric practice. 

“It’s a lazy and lethal business practice to blast a protected species in its habitat for profit. 

“Our precious marine life is already under enough pressure from warming oceans and a raft of other environmental pressures – it’s essential that the expanding salmon industry is more tightly regulated, and far more accountable for any environmental damage it creates.”

Labor will lift teacher entry standards and boost teacher numbers, as part of a plan to raise the status of the teaching profession, fix teacher shortages, and improve student results. 

The Morrison Government has let our children down with a school system that’s falling even further behind countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Korea. 

This is a serious problem for students, who aren’t being properly prepared for high-skilled, well-paid jobs, and it’s a handbrake on the economy.

Our hardworking teachers do a terrific job. They stepped up during COVID to make sure our kids could keep learning. But far fewer high achievers in Australia choose teaching today. That needs to change. 

If the federal government doesn’t act now, we’re going to have a massive teacher shortage in coming years – we’re already facing shortages and Australia will be about 4,000 teachers short by 2025, according to Senate testimony from the federal education department. 

To tackle these issues, Labor will:

• Seek to double the number of high achievers studying teaching over the next decade. To help achieve this we will pay 5000 students who get an ATAR of 80 or above a bursary of up to $12,000 a year to study an initial teacher education degree.
• Boost the High Achieving Teachers Program to support 1,500 qualified professionals in other fields – including mathematicians and scientists – to retrain as teachers through an employment-based pathway that will pay a part-time wage while they complete an intensive master’s degree in education. The 1,500 extra places will include 700 new Teach for Australia teachers and 60 new teachers through LaTrobe University’s Nexus Program.
• Labor will work with States and Territories, through the next National School Reform Agreement, to make sure teachers have a better career path with more opportunities to become recognised and rewarded as experts, and to pass on their skills to other teachers without having to leave classroom teaching.

Labor will invest $146.5 million to deliver the plan, over four years. This investment will improve outcomes for our kids, and lift education standards for our nation – helping to secure a Better Future for Australians.

Anthony Albanese said:

“We want to make sure our kids get the best education they can. That means we have to make sure they get the best quality teaching.
 
Labor’s plan will incentivise the best graduates to join the teaching profession, leading to a brighter future for our students and for the nation.”

Tanya Plibersek said:

“One of the most important things we can do to stop the slide and boost student results is to lift teaching standards. 

“I want students competing to get into teaching like they do to get into medicine or law. 

“If we want a better future in Australia, we need a smart, skilled workforce so we can compete for jobs and growth with our neighbours.”

An Albanese Federal Labor Government will partner with the Malinauskas State Labor Government to deliver a major expansion of Flinders Medical Centre and upgrades for the Repat.

This equal partnership will deliver a once-in-a-generation $400 million expansion of Flinders Medical Centre, delivering 160 extra beds for the south of Adelaide: 136 extra beds at Flinders Medical Centre and a further 24 beds at the Repat. 

Through major expansions of the western and southern wings of the hospital, this investment will tackle ramping and reduce bed block by providing the space for patients to move out of the emergency department. 

Key elements of the plan will include: 

• Over 136 extra beds at Flinders Medical Centre: These additional beds will substantially increase the hospital’s capacity, meaning fewer patients will be stuck on the ramp or in the emergency department. Key features of the upgrade include:
  • The majority of the new beds will be single rooms – improving patient privacy and infection control – preventing the spread of existing disease such as COVID-19 and flu and preparing for the future. 
  • Approximately two thirds of the additional beds will be overnight beds, with one third same-day beds, both of which are essential for increasing capacity at the hospital and meeting the needs of more patients.  
  • A major upgrade and expansion of the Margaret Tobin Centre for mental health. This will increase both mental health intensive care and general ward beds. Mental health access block is a leading cause of ramping. 
  • The project will also upgrade outdated wards.
• An expanded Intensive Care Unit: increasing the capacity of the Intensive Care Unit, which has been under sustained pressure.
• New modern operating theatres: building additional operating theatres as part of the redevelopment, increasing the capacity for emergency and elective surgery.
• Expanded medical imaging: upgrading and expanding medical imaging services and bringing angiography services in-house – resulting in improved access to scans for Flinders patients.
• A brand-new eye surgery clinic: Providing high-quality and faster ophthalmology surgery and services such as cataract removal.
• Upgraded care for older people: Establishing a new 24-bed older person’s unit at the Repat as a hub for older person’s health and wellbeing, creating critical extra beds that will help while the redevelopment of Flinders Medical Centre takes place. 

The full upgrade plan is expected to be completed by 2028, with a staged development to deal with the site infrastructure challenges and the need to progressively increase bed availability. Detailed planning works will commence in partnership between Federal and State governments immediately following the election of a Federal Labor Government.

This investment is part of Labor’s plans to improve health care for South Australians, which also includes:

• 24/7 nurses in aged care – which will help take pressure off emergency departments.
• Investing $77 million in the Bragg Comprehensive Cancer Centre in South Australia, continuing Labor’s long history of supporting SAHMRI.
• Delivering a new mental health and wellbeing centre in Bedford Park, with a $12.6 million investment that will provide children up to 12 years of age, their parents and carers with high-quality, multidisciplinary mental health and early intervention services.
• Investing $13.7 million in better and expanded access to vital suicide prevention services in Adelaide.

Anthony Albanese, Federal Labor Leader said:

“Over a decade in office, Scott Morrison has failed to invest in the future of Flinders Medical Centre or help South Australia fix its unprecedented ramping crisis.

“I want to partner with Peter Malinauskas to give people in southern Adelaide the medical care they deserve.

“It’s a choice between more of the same, or a better future.”

Peter Malinauskas, SA Premier said: 

“South Australians know how determined I am to fix the ramping crisis. 

“This is the partnership we need to reduce ramping and ensure Flinders is well-equipped to deliver high quality care. And it will dramatically reduce pressure on the overall hospital network.

“This represents the first major stage of a generational investment needed to replace the ageing infrastructure at Flinders Medical Centre.”

An additional 12 new MH-60R Romeo maritime helicopters and 29 new AH-64E Apache Armed Reconnaissance helicopters will join Australia’s Navy and Army to help keep Australians safe while creating around 300 jobs.

The Government will expand our maritime helicopter fleet with an additional 12 MH-60R Romeo maritime helicopters to be acquired and based at HMAS Albatross, along with a 13th Romeo to replace one lost in 2021. This investment is worth more than $2.5 billion and will replace Navy’s existing Taipan fleet. The Government has also set aside up to $360 million to expand facilities at HMAS Albatross to house the expanded fleet.

The Government has also finalised a more than $5.5 billion investment to acquire and operate 29 new AH-64E Apaches helicopters for the Army, replacing Army’s existing Tiger helicopters. The Government will also invest up to $500 million to upgrade facilities to support the new Apache helicopters.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the investments were key to the Government’s plan for a safe and secure Australia in the face of regional and global uncertainty.

“Our world and our region are changing but we’re investing a record $270 billion in the defence and security of Australia over the decade to 2030,” the Prime Minister said.

“Australia and our region is now in the midst of the most consequential and challenging strategic realignment since the Second World War.

“But these investments don’t just support the Australian Defence Force, they support local jobs and skills right here.

“The more than $8 billion we’re investing in helicopters and facilities means 290 new jobs on the ground for electricians, mechanics and engineers to support their maintenance, along with hundreds more jobs in the small business supply chain that supports these fleets.

“A safe and secure Australia also means a strong economy and a stronger future for defence industry jobs.”

Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the Romeos and Apaches were proven helicopters that would deter and respond to the threats Australia faced.

“We’re expanding the size and capability of our helicopters to meet the threats Australia faces,” Minister Dutton said.

“We’re following the 2020 Force Structure Plan that outlined the need to expand our naval operations in particular and the Romeo fits that role as a next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, and can also assist with search and rescue and transport like they have during recent bushfires and floods.

“The Apache is a proven and reliable attack helicopter which is already in use by the United States Government and United Kingdom, and has improved sensors, communications and networking systems, attack capabilities and survivability.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said economic analysis showed the Romeo program would create 90 new job and support 510 workers, particularly in the communities around HMAS Albatross.

“These investments are about our strategic security, and about the security of Australian skills and jobs,” Minister Price said.

“Navy already operates Romeo helicopters and using a single type of helicopter for all maritime roles offers value-for-money and significant efficiencies through the use of common maintenance, training, and other sustainment services.”

Minister Price said the Apaches would complement the Army’s Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and Air Force’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, further enhancing these capabilities when deployed in combination.

“The Apaches will be a key part of Australian air capability across our services,” Minister Price said.

“The Apache will also have a highly skilled blended maintenance workforce comprising a large proportion of Australian industry contractors within both the Operational and Deep Maintenance organisations.

“Defence is working closely with Australian industry, primarily Boeing Defence Australia, to deliver a support system for the Apaches that maximises Australian Industry Capability and builds a strong domestic industrial base with local maintenance, engineering, logistics and training services.

“Under our Government Defence spending has almost doubled. That stands in stark contrast to Labor that slashed Defence spending to 1.56 per cent of GDP – the lowest level since 1938.”

The Romeos and Apaches will be delivered from 2025.

The Morrison Government is backing South Australian manufacturers to grow their businesses, create more jobs and compete internationally as part of its plan for a strong economy and a stronger future.

Seven innovative South Australian businesses will share in more than $48 million of funding through Round 2 of the Integration and Translation Streams of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

South Australian icon Bickford’s Australia will receive up to $2.95 million to establish a new manufacturing facility which will be dedicated to the production of highly sensitive beverage product categories such as dairy, electrolyte replenishment, prebiotics, protein milk and ready to feed baby formula

The new facility will significantly raise quality and material management standards to meet Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements, upskill Bickford’s workforce and create new skilled employment opportunities. It will also increase Bickford’s demand for locally sourced raw materials and ingredients, providing benefits right across the supply chain.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said this funding would bolster the state’s thriving manufacturing sector and unlock further significant investment.

“South Australia has a long and proud history in manufacturing. This funding is a big win for jobs and another vote of confidence in South Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability,” Minister Taylor said.

“We are backing these businesses to turn good ideas into commercial success stories and build critical capability for the future. Our $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy is all about helping home-grown manufacturers break into new markets and turn innovative ideas into a reality.

“The election on May 21 will be a choice, between a Coalition Government which delivers a strong economy that enables investment in Australian manufacturing capability, or a Labor Government that will weaken the manufacturing sector by making Australia a harder place to do business with higher taxes and higher energy costs.”

Other business that will share in the funding include:

• Hallett Concrete will receive up to $20 million for a $109 million project to build an integrated green cement business, consisting of a slag granulating plant at Whyalla Steelworks, a grinding, processing and distribution hub at Port Augusta, and a product receival, blending and distribution hub at Port Adelaide. The project will take industrial waste products from three existing mineral processing operations into low carbon cement products, replace imports and secure low carbon cements for the Australian construction industry.
• Orora will receive up to $12.5 million to construct a new low carbon clean energy glass melting furnace to replace the current G3 glass gas/air red furnace. This project will be the first oxygen red glass furnace in Australia, create more than 150 new jobs and will deliver low carbon wine and beer glass containers to support the Australian food and beverage industry.
• Mayne Pharmaceuticals will receive up to $4.8 million to expand its advanced manufacturing capability and ensure the Salisbury site remains one of Australia’s leading solid oral dose manufacturing facilities. The project seeks to double the production of chronic pain medications such as Kapanol, boost encapsulation capacity from 56 million to 104 million doses per annum, and increase blister packaging capacity from 7.9 million to 21.3 million boxes per annum.
• Southern Launch will receive up to $4.95 million to develop a local facility in Adelaide to support the development of the AT Space rocket, extend test facility for the rocket testing and develop the orbital launch complex. It aims to attract foreign launch providers to Australia and grow the local supply chain. It will deliver a vertically integrated sovereign space launch capability within two years and create new mature value chains that do not currently exist in Australia.
• Inovor Technologies will receive up to $1 million to expand their current electronics test and integration labs and clean rooms to accommodate larger spacecraft as well as grow the batch manufacture of smaller cube satellites.
• Samuel Smith & Son will receive up to $2.1 million to adopt an in-house de-alcoholising system to produce and bottle low alcohol products to meet the rapidly increasing consumer demand in low alcohol/no alcohol wines and increase efficiencies for quality and cost for competitiveness in global supply chains. The project will also enable up to 50 smaller wineries to access the common user infrastructure through packaging operation technology.

Together these projects are delivering a pipeline of jobs and economic benefits for Australia, creating more jobs, more investment, more exports and more Australian companies leading the way.