Chris Bowen argues ‘unwinding' net zero would take Australia backwards
'If you take up a battery, together with solar under the Albanese government's cheaper home batteries policy, you can save $2,300 each and every year,' Mr Bowen said.
'A permanent bill reduction.
'Economic modelling shows that net zero will make every single Australian household $2,000 better off.
'Any attempt to unwind net zero would take Western Australia backwards.'
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Daily Telegraph
28 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Aus company secures $125m order for high power laser weapon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Innovation. Followed categories will be added to My News. An Australian technology company has secured a 'groundbreaking' $125 million deal with a European country for a 'high energy laser weapon system' designed to shoot down over a dozen drones within a minute. Electro Optic Systems (EOS) signed a contract with a European NATO Member State – the name of which has not been disclosed – to deliver the 100-kilowatt anit-drone weapon between 2025-2028. 'The new laser counter-drone capability was developed by EOS to address the urgent market need and emerging strategic requirement to defend against drone swarm attacks at an economical cost,' EOS said in a statement on its website. 'This is the world's first export order for a 100-kilowatt class laser defence system.' The high energy laser weapons was designed to defend against drone swarm attacks. Picture: Supplied/Electro Optic Systems The company said the order, which is valued at €71.4 million (or about $A125 million), will be fulfilled in Singapore, where EOS has a laser innovation centre. 'EOS is already an established global leader in counter-drone capability using kinetic weapons and missiles to bring down drones. The high-power laser builds on these core competencies and substantially extends them.' The system – which is mobile and can work on a truck – operates 'at the speed of light' and can shoot down as many as twenty drones in a minute, Dr Andreas Schwer, Chief Executive Officer of Electro Optic Systems told 'The laser can hit a target almost instantly … unlike a bullet which takes a second to get there,' Dr Schwer said. The order is valued at $A125 million. Picture: Electro Optic Systems The laser can hit a target almost instantly. Picture: Electro Optic Systems He said the system works by amplifying lasers to high power levels. '(It) then combines multiple laser beams together,' he explained. 'It tracks targets very accurately – this is critical – and keeps the laser beam on the target … The light energy typically degrades the drone target in 1-2 seconds.' While missiles generally have a longer range, the high-power laser system 'can shoot down many more targets' at a cheaper cost within a two to five kilometre range. 'Missile systems cost $0.5m – $2.0m per shot fired,' Dr Schwer said. 'The laser system costs less than 10 cents per shot.' 'Lasers can shoot directly upwards, which ballistics (bullets and missiles) often cannot do,' he added. A Russian drone attacks a building during a Russian missile and drone air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 17, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky With drones becoming increasingly more common in modern warfare and swarms posing a 'real threat', Dr Schwer said militaries will need to employ a 'layered solution', including laser systems, rocket systems and longer-range missiles to protect their valuable assets. 'Drones are a big threat both in military and civil domains,' he said. 'Because drones get cheaper every year, everyone is using them and many valuable assets are very vulnerable.' He noted other countries are trying to develop laser weapon technology, 'but it is very complex'. 'This is the first very international supply contract of this size in the laser weapon industry – a groundbreaking deal for our industry and for EOS,' he said in a video on the company's website. Looking to the future, Dr Schwer said laser weapons will continue to play a role on the battlefield, becoming more powerful and portable over time. Going forward, the company is looking to expand its 50 to 100 kilowatt family and develop systems towards the 150 kilowatt class to meet future needs. 'We are also looking to develop naval variants of our models, giving the critical gap in the market for effective counter-drone solutions.' Russia tests laser defences It comes as Russia last month conducted large-scale tests of new laser systems to defend against drones – which both Ukraine and Russia have deployed during the nations' three year war. 'These technologies will form one of the key elements of the universal air defense system President Vladimir Putin recently called for,' the Board of the Military-Industrial Complex said in a statement. 'The test results will be used to refine existing models and create systems capable of providing reliable protection against modern air attack weapons.' Russian soldiers prepare a strike FPV drone aircraft to fly towards Ukrainian position in an undisclosed location. Picture: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP Meanwhile, Ukraine last year announced it had developed its own laser weapon which can target and down aircraft at altitudes exceeding two kilometres. Speaking at the 'European Defense Industry: Prospects for Cooperation with the Ukrainian Defense Industry' conference in December, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi said the country's military proudly declared Tryzub (trident) 'laser is real and operational', adding that efforts were underway to scale up its capabilities against Russia. Colonel Sukharevskyi also introduced the concept of 'mother drones' or 'queen drones' — unmanned aerial systems capable of carrying two FPV (first-person view) light attack drones during his address. According to the Kyiv Independent, the announcement marked a significant leap in Ukraine's military innovation. Originally published as 'Speed of light': Australian company secures 'groundbreaking' $125m order for high power anti-drone weapon
The Age
38 minutes ago
- The Age
Albanese seeks call with Netanyahu amid Sydney, Melbourne protests
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is continuing to pursue a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as at least 90,000 people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge calling for an end to the war in Gaza and pressure builds within Labor for recognition of Palestinian statehood. Albanese said on Monday he would use any phone call with Netanyahu to advocate for a two-state solution. Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite had earlier confirmed that the call was being pursued, as Labor politicians backed the peaceful protest organised by the Palestine Action Group, with at least three members of the federal caucus in attendance. Backbenchers Ed Husic, Alison Byrnes and Tony Sheldon marched with protesters on Sunday, putting further pressure on Albanese to recognise Palestine. At a press conference on Monday, Albanese said he would continue to advocate for peace with Netanyahu. Loading 'I have said to prime minister Netanyahu before, as I've said publicly for a long period of time that I'm a supporter of a two-state solution, and that there can't be peace and security in the Middle East, without there being an advance on that two-state solution,' Albanese said. The government has repeatedly said that recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of timing. Allies in France, Canada and the United Kingdom have all laid the groundwork to recognise the state at the next United Nations General Assembly in September. Albanese ruled out any further sanctions against Israeli figures, following those already placed on ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in June for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Speaking about the Harbour Bridge protest, Albanese said he was not surprised so many felt moved to march after seeing images of 'people being deprived of food and water and essential services' in Gaza.
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Stupid games': Government keeps cost secret after Japan wins lucrative warships deal
The total estimated cost of the Albanese government's plan for Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build 11 new warships for the Australian navy is being kept secret, with some experts calculating the price could be as much as $20 billion. The government announced on Tuesday that the Japanese firm had defeated German rival TKMS in a decision that has been widely applauded by the defence community. Overcoming concerns about a lack of export experience, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries won favour with its ultra-modern Mogami frigate, which was found to be a more advanced warship than German firm TKMS's Meko A-200 vessel. Japanese officials have also said the United States backed its proposal as a way to boost collaboration among key Indo-Pacific partners. TKMS sought to capitalise on the fact that it has sold ships to navies around the world, while modern Japan has no experience exporting warships, but this argument failed to overcome the perceived advantages of the Mogami. Under the general purpose frigate program, Australia will acquire 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to replace the ageing Anzac-class frigates, which are regarded as the workhorse vessels of the Australian navy and are being gradually retired. Recent navy projects have been riddled with cost blow-outs and delays, leading to the government's announcement last year that it would slash the number of Hunter-class frigates and offshore patrol vessels it planned to purchase in favour of ships with more firepower. An audit office report released in June blasted Defence Department's handling of maintenance for the navy's landing helicopter docks, finding they were beset by defects and failing to meet their availability targets. The government's estimate that the AUKUS submarine program will cost up to $368 billion has fuelled critics' calls for Australia to seek a cheaper option for its future submarine fleet.
