Australia's independent, non-partisan, national public-interest watchdog org for strategic security, defence & wider national security issues since 1975.
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Australia Defence Association retweeted
A deeply ill-informed @crikey_news piece by Albert Palazzo, an Army historian who has repeatedly written about maritime defence in ways that, in my view, demonstrate a poor understanding of how maritime strategy actually works.
The basic problem is that he treats trade protection as though 🇦🇺 would need to escort thousands of merchant ships across entire ocean routes. We wouldn’t.
🇦🇺 needs layered maritime defence: protecting ports & approaches, controlling critical sea lines of communication, & using subs, surface ships, aircraft, intelligence and surveillance, naval control of shipping, mine warfare & allies to keep critical seabourne supply (a subset of maritime trade).
The RAN did exactly this in WWII. Protecting trade involved convoy escort, minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare, naval control of shipping &port defence. It did not mean escorting every ship everywhere.
A better explanation of how 🇦🇺 would actually protect maritime trade: lowyinstitute.org/the-interp…
A core part of Australia’s defence policy is to protect merchant ships at sea. It’s a mission it can’t possibly fulfil — and meanwhile it gets leveraged to justify AUKUS and appease the US, writes Albert Palazzo.
crikey.com.au/2026/10/26/aus…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
A good piece by @astonrbrown in the @guardian looking at ADF recruitment in 🇦🇺, and what those joining the ADF in 2026 can expect. Pleased to be able to contribute:
'Parker says these benefits, combined with one of the most significant modernisations in military history, make it a “fairly exciting time” to join the military. But, she warns, “anyone who joins the ADF should expect to serve on operations and, if necessary, be called upon to fight for their country – the chances of doing that is increasing”'.
🇦🇺 faces challenging times, but we are a great country, despite our challenges and it is those amazing young women and men choosing to join the should give us confidence we are up to the task.
🔗 theguardian.com/world/2026/o…
@DefenceUwa @LowyInstitute @NSC_ANU
Australia Defence Association retweeted
Russia is firing ballistic missiles with cluster warheads on civilian targets. A barbaric act of evil that, in a just world, would see condemnation from all civilised nations. Sadly, I suspect some will continue to maintain that what Russia is doing to Ukraine is 'fine'...
It’s now officially confirmed.
Tonight, russia struck Kyiv’s historic centre with an Iskander ballistic missile carrying a cluster warhead.
58 submunitions explode in mid-air, designed to inflict maximum casualties across a 400 × 400 metre area.
“This strike had no military purpose. The goal was to destroy part of the old city and injure as many people as possible,” said a Ukrainian presidential adviser.
No military objective. Just terror.
Australia Defence Association retweeted
Yes, @wesstreeting, we do need to rethink to gain the initiative. But you won’t do that by working the old machine harder. You need a new one…
Some quotes in the following short thread from a @Policy_Exchange research paper drafted a year ago.
1/3
telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
The below is an excerpt from @benmckelvey excellent book Find Fix Finish that confirms Ben Roberts-Smith recollections and remorse of the insider attack and follow on hunt for Hekmatullah, via my direct involvement in the hunt.
It was just after midnight when I walked into the Task Force 66 intelligence Fusion And Targeting Cell (#FATC) ‘What’s going on?’ I asked.
‘Green on blue,’ at an Aussie Patrol Base the boss replied.
I went straight to my computer and went to work, sending RFI (requests for information) across the @NATO_SOF intelligence network. I was looking at any #HUMINT or #SIGINT insurgents in the Baluchi/Dorafshan area I was monitoring.
I had to figure out if this attack was part of the insurgency, and more importantly were there going to be other attacks that night.
My main priority was to positively identify who the Afghan National Army (#ANA) soldier was that attacked @AustralianArmy soldiers, so that I could build a #JPEL target pack so that I could obtain Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (#ISR) assets and legally target him.
A @ADF_SOCOMD Force Element Alpha (#FE_A #SASR ) element were going up to the patrol base immediately. After about 15 minutes (but felt like hours) there was a hard knock on the door of the FATC, it was Ben Roberts-Smith and he looked straight at me and stated "get your shit on mate, you're coming with us". This was so I could interview the remaining ANA soldiers to gather immediate actionable intelligence for the FE to act upon.
The Commanding Officer's priority was to identify and locate this attacker ASAP.
‘You don’t get to kill @AustralianArmy soldiers and get away with it,’ was the mood within the Task Force.
A FE A element were able to be sent to the patrol base that night, to resolve the stand-off between our (@AustralianArmy) 3RAR brothers and the remaining ANA soldiers, but mainly the FE A operators wanted to show that big brother was there and, ‘give them a hug and assure the remaining @AustralianArmy soldiers that we had their back and weren't going to rest until we had the killer.'
By early morning I had identified that the killer was Afghan National Army (ANA) Sergeant (Zabet) #Hekmatullah .
It was early morning now and I had raised Hekmatullah on to the JPEL as Objective Jungle Effect. The hunt for Hekmatullah was now on and It was my role to find his location, and brief the leadership who then tasked the FE to go to that location and search for him.
Objective Jungle Effect was designated by PM @JuliaGillard, the @ausgov and @DefenceAust
as the new top ‘national priority target’ and was ‘green’ on the JPEL, meaning I could use all the various intelligence collection platforms to locate Hekmatullah. We didn't rest for the next weeks we didn't rest until I had it confirmed via @NATO_SOF intelligence that Hekmatullah had reached Pakistan.
Australia Defence Association retweeted
Not a 'crazy theory' @PalmerLuckey ! I agree - #Taiwan represents the beginning of #China's geopolitical ambitions - and I note their previous statements re #Okinawa, and now #Batanes, not to mention their claim to the entireity of the South China Sea.
They want a Chinese sphere of influence extending across the Indo-Pacific, and they want a Chinese-centric world order to replace a US-led rules-based international order.
Palmer Luckey warns China won’t stop at Taiwan… and believes Beijing is already building a historical narrative to justify territorial claims over Okinawa, the Philippines, and other Pacific territories. 🇺🇸🇨🇳🇹🇼🇯🇵
“This is my crazy theory, and people can disagree with me. But nobody in history has ever built a gigantic amphibious landing force, used it once, and then dismantled it—except for the United States.
If China takes Taiwan, I think they’re immediately going to hop over to Okinawa, parts of the Philippines, and maybe parts of Vietnam as well.
Xi Jinping has been talking about the Ryukyu Islands, where Okinawa is located, and historical tributary relationships with China.
They’re not bringing up ancient history just because they love wandering through national archives looking at obscure tributary states.
They’re constructing a national narrative that would allow them to convince their people to start with Taiwan—and then go after more of America’s Pacific allies.”
Australia Defence Association retweeted
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if hundreds of Mearsheimer’s acolytes, western Valdai Club attendees, Kremlin lackies, Quisling Institute no marks, faux Oxford intellectuals, and foreign policy ‘realists’ cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced
Australia Defence Association retweeted
Bit of an emotional morning on the harbour! ⚓️🩵
Today we said a fond farewell to the Royal Australian Navy’s iconic tall ship Young Endeavour as she wrapped up an incredible 38 years at sea.
A fleet of vessels including James Craig escorted her on one last journey through the Western Channel, past Bradley's Head and Fort Denison and over to Fleet Base East.
Fair winds and following seas, Young Endeavour. Thank you for nearly four decades of inspiring young Australians and enriching our maritime story. You’ll be missed on the water! ⛵✨
#YoungEndeavour #SydneyHarbour #MaritimeHistory
Australia Defence Association retweeted
After alleged attack on Helen Haines, how do we actually turn down the temperature? abc.net.au/news/2026-10-22/d… via @ABCaustralia
Australia Defence Association retweeted
“The speed limits on Starlink and Starshield are still there.” An unbelievable state of affairs.
The speed limits on Starlink and Starshield are still there. The speed has not been restored. And the delivery of interceptors to protect us against Russian ballistic missiles is still delayed. We’re waiting for interceptors that were already agreed on. But they are still not coming. This is a real problem, because the Russians attack us almost every single day.
All of this is happening while we continue our quite successful operations on the front. We keep defending positions. Things have become harder – partly because of the Starlink and Starshield policies and speed limits. But our frontline is still holding and I am proud of how strong our people are.
From an address at the Hudson Institute. (2/3)
Australia Defence Association retweeted
This is very good to see. Pine Gap provides a vital role in supporting nuclear deterrence, in terms of acting as a ground station for space based missile early warning. As such, it makes deterrence more effective, and nuclear war less likely. That is a good thing. It also performs important intelligence functions that are vital for Australia and its allies, including the US.
Major expansion under way at secretive military base Pine Gap afr.com/politics/federal/maj…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
India Slams China-Funded UN Rapporteur Ben Saul: “Such incompetence on part of special mandateholders does this organization tremendous harm.” 🇮🇳 calls him out for “clear bias,” notes “allegations” ($150K from Beijing), demands “highest standards of probity and impartiality.”
In a brazen attack on the U.S., UN rapporteur Ben Saul accuses America of “crimes against humanity” and demands states withhold military assets from Washington.
This comes after his office received $150,000 from China. He must now face U.S. sanctions.
unwatch.org/china-funded-un-…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
“The head of the New Zealand Defence Force has resigned after admitting an “inappropriate relationship” while in a position of command and saying his conduct was contrary to Defence Force values.”
stuff.co.nz/nz-news/36105037…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
'Is [intelligence politicisation] a burgeoning problem in Australia? No, not yet. But the seeds are there. The US can ultimately, maybe, afford chaos and dysfunction in its national security institutions. Australia cannot,' writes @StatecraftINT. aspistrategist.org.au/preven…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
In @FinancialReview, @johncoyne14 argues: “🇦🇺 is rightly applying more national interest scrutiny for foreign direct investment” in critical minerals and infrastructure, but must also streamline approvals where possible to support economic security.
🔗 ⤵️afr.com/policy/economy/austr…
Australia Defence Association retweeted
EXCLUSIVE: An AIJAC investigation has found that approximately 40% of those listed by the ABC as “journalists” killed in Gaza were identified by researchers as terrorist operatives.
So, what does this reveal about the ABC’s reporting?
AIJAC’s Director of Special Projects Dr Bren Carlill (@BBCarlill) joins Andrew Bolt on News24 Australia’s The Bolt Report to unpack the findings and their implications for media accuracy and accountability.
Read the full AIJAC report: aijac.org.au/fresh-air/evide…
Video: News24 Australia / AIJAC.
Australia Defence Association retweeted
Australia’s foreign-investment gatekeeper needs defence expertise | @johncoyne14 and @BassiJustin | bit.ly/4eMZ9ii
Australia Defence Association retweeted
And those who made the decision need to be in the long line of war criminals tried in Kyiv after the war…
