New legislation would give the ADF more power to respond to future bushfires and other disasters. But questions remain about the scope of this involvement and how ADF personnel would be deployed.
The government is setting up a special investigator office to examine the findings of the inquiry into alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
The Morrison government is repurposing defence spending in a A$1 billion boost to support about 4,000 jobs and assist small and medium-sized businesses in the defence industry supply chain.
Australian-based companies get a good share of Australian defence contracts, but not the Australian owned ones, and much of the work is mere subcontracting.
China didn’t feature explicitly in Scott Morrison’s speech, but the dramatic growth in its military capabilities was a clear reason for the surge in defence spending.
Soldiers on Australian streets are not a common sight outside parades. But the current pandemic requires a much more coordinated and strategic response – and a bigger role from the ADF.
Climate change is expected to increase the severity of natural disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, straining Australia’s ability to respond through humanitarian missions and fuelling more climate migration.
Vlad Sokhin/UNICEF handout
A Senate report recommended several measures the government should take to prepare for climate-fuelled migration, natural disasters and conflicts. The response so far has been underwhelming.
Isis claims attacks in Beni province of northern Kivu, eastern Congo, close to the border to Uganda.
Shutterstock
State governments have apologised for past laws discriminating against LGBT people. LGBT service members deserve the same from the ADF, as well as a path toward redress.
Recent research found that media reports on women in the military are perpetuating male dominance.
Dave Hunt/AAP
Media reporting on women in the military plays an important role in cultural change. Recent research shows Australian newspapers focus on scandal and place responsibility on the women involved.
The Information Warfare Division will require much broader skill sets than typically associated with defence force personnel.
katacarix/shutterstock
The Australian Defence Force’s new Information Warfare Division will require time and political capital to shape a capable workforce.
Under proposed changes, the war crime of murder would not apply to collateral civilian deaths resulting from an otherwise lawful attack.
EPA/Zouhir Al Shimale
Under proposed changes, the war crime offence of murder, in a non-international armed conflict, would not apply to collateral civilian deaths resulting from an otherwise lawful attack.
Testimonies at the royal commission highlighted the age-old military tradition of initiation ceremonies and their place in building morale.
AAP/Richard Wainwright
Military institutions and militarised cultures seek to generate a unity of people and purpose. Initiation rituals have been a historically stable strategy to achieve this.
Climate change will affect defence personnel themselves, as well as the kind of situations they find themselves deployed in.
AAP Image/Australian Department of Defence, Corporal Ricky Fuller
Nations such as the United States have treated climate change as a major security threat for years. The Australian government’s forthcoming Defence White Paper cannot afford to ignore the issue.
Australian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel marched in record numbers at the 2015 Mardi Gras, led by senior Defence officers – a stark contrast to the way gay veterans were treated in the past.
Department of Defence
On Anzac Day 1982, five gay veterans tried to lay a wreath at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, but were turned away by the Shrine Guard and the state RSL president. This year, that won’t happen.
Tony Abbott’s latest “Captain’s call” comes as the government commits more troops to Iraq.
Lukas Coch/AAP
As I was showering five or six senior [others] attacked me – they turned off the lights, tied my hands behind my back and proceeded to do things to me. I was held down whilst one of them put his penis…
Julian Knight is one of Australia’s worst mass murderers. But how much do we know about his experience in the military?
AAP/Julian Smith
In February, Victorian premier Denis Napthine locked the door and threw away the key for Hoddle Street mass killer Julian Knight. Despite being eligible for parole in May after serving a 27-year minimum…
Australians have become very aware of the negative cultural tendencies of the ADF.
AAP/Scott Fisher
Prime minister Tony Abbott’s three-word slogan “stop the boats” may be meeting its promise. Last Friday, Abbott was “very pleased” to point out that it was the “50th day without an illegal boat arriving…