Australia's military to receive $50 billion increases over the next decade, Anthony Albanese unveils new boost to critical minerals industry, Australia reveals new Olympic uniforms to mark 100 days until the Paris games begin.
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- Australia's military to receive $50 billion boost over the next decade...
- Anthony Albanese unveils new boost to critical minerals industry...
- Australia reveals new Olympic uniforms to mark 100 days until the Paris games begin.
Australia's military spending will increase by $50 billion over the next decade as part of a defence shake-up.
Launching the first national defence strategy in a major speech, Defence Minister Richard Marles has unveiled the significant boost to the sector, citing the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.
"Australia no longer has the luxury of a 10-year window of strategic warning time for conflict. The optimistic assumptions that guided defence planning after the end of the cold war are long gone. Our environment is characterised by the uncertainty and tensions of entrenched and increasing strategic competition between the United States and China. This competition is accompanied by an unprecedented conventional and non-conventional military build-up in our region."
The $50 billion boost means total defence investment is expected to reach $330 billion through to 2033/34, including early costs for the AUKUS nuclear powered submarines.
The funding will also include an $11.1 billion boost to speed up the delivery of the Navy's surface combatant fleet and to expand the shipbuilding industry.
Australia's critical minerals industry will have access to $400 million in government loans as part of the Albanese government's Future Made in Australia scheme.
The loans aim to increase Australia's capacity to manufacture critical minerals products, rather then just importing the materials from abroad.
The nation's first high-purity alumina processing facility will be established in the Queensland city of Gladstone as part of the program.
Alumina is a critical mineral used in LED lighting, semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries with other high-tech applications.
The government says the construction of the facility will create about 490 jobs with more than 200 ongoing jobs available when it is completed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Alumina facility is an example of the government's efforts to get local manufacturing back on track.
"The world is changing. We're in a competition for new jobs and new industries and new opportunity. And we've got to be in it to win it. And that's why I launched this campaign, partnering with the private sector. Alpha, this Australian-based company here, producing Australian I-P once again. Producing the best products in the world, that's what we can do."
Members of Victoria’s First Peoples Assembly have shared their vision for treaty negotiations with the Yoorrook truth-telling commission.
The current round of Yoorrook hearings are investigating injustices related to land, skies, and waters - including the effects of land dispossession, colonisation, and the denial of wealth from resources.
With the state’s first treaty negotiations anticipated to start sometime later this year, the Assembly reaffirmed that it wanted to be granted extra decision-making powers through negotiations.
Co-chair of the assembly Ngarra Murray and Rueben Berg outlined the purpose of treaty and their aim for the talks with government.
MURRAY: "Today we are faced with a divide between those whose wealth was stolen and those who grew and passed down that stolen wealth. This is what we need to address, this is why we need to negotiate a better, fairer deal for our people through treaty.”
BERG: “We would then aspire to be a body that would then be able to hold powers as a result of state-wide treaty outcomes. So we see it in three phases: there was the first phase about negotiating the process, the second phase is actually negotiating treaties, and the third phase is actually exercising powers as a result of treaty.”
The Yoorrook Justice Commission hearings will continue into next week including an on country hearing with Premier Jacinta Allan.
In sport,
Matildas striker Michelle Heyman says its an honour to sport Australia's new Olympic ceremony uniform ahead of Paris 2024.
Australia has reveiled the new uniforms to mark 100 days until the Paris games begin.
The uniforms feature the names of all 301 Australian Summer Olympic champions on the inner lining of a green blazer with Indigenous artwork on the pocket square and scarf.
Heyman, who has taken the place of Matildas captain Sam Kerr who is recovering from an ACL injury, says she can't wait to represent her country.
"I think we all had the same dream since we were little kids to be an Olympian and for myself it's the one thing that I always wanted to achieve. For myself, to be able to wear this jacket, to put on this colour, to represent my country means the world to me."
