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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Australia's navy not ready for war? PM Anthony Albanese dismisses audit findings
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strongly denied claims that Defence Minister Richard Marles was not properly briefed about the readiness of the country's warships.A government audit released last week revealed that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) had failed to maintain two of its most important vessels, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide. It also stated that Marles did not receive official 'preparedness reports' from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 2023 and 2024, during the time the Defence Strategic Review was being the audit said Marles was briefed through 'other means,' including informal Tuesday(July 1), Prime Minister Albanese rejected the suggestion that his deputy had been left in the dark.'Well, that's just absurd, that's just absurd,' Albanese told Channel Nine's Today show.'That's just ridiculous, frankly. I haven't seen that report, but we sit in the National Security Committee with the Chief of the Defence Force. We meet regularly.'He added that the government's recent defence funding decisions, including a $57 billion expansion and an additional $1 billion brought forward in the March 2025 budget, were based on direct consultations with Defence officials. Preparedness reports are used to assess how quickly military assets can be deployed during emergencies like war or natural disasters. The lack of formal reporting raised concerns amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific is also under increasing pressure from the United States to raise its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. Prime Minister Albanese has resisted those calls, saying Canberra will determine defence needs independently.'Our national security is a matter for Australia, not Washington,' he said earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US allies in the Asia-Pacific should follow Europe's lead in boosting military budgets. NATO members, except Spain, have recently agreed to increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of New Zealand, and South Korea have also committed to increasing their defence budgets in response to regional audit report and the government's response come as Australia works to reassure allies about its military readiness and reliability, especially under the AUKUS defence pact with the US and UK.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Albo hits back at ‘absurd' defence claim
Anthony Albanese has rejected a report detail revealing his deputy, Defence Minister Richard Marles, did not get warship readiness briefings for years. An audit published on Friday found the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has failed to properly maintain Australia's biggest battleships – the HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide. It also revealed Mr Marles did not get 'preparedness reports' from Australian Defence Force (ADF) officials 'in 2023 and 2024 due to development of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review'. Instead, Mr Marles was briefed 'through 'other means', including during conversations'. The Prime Minister flatly rejected the finding when asked about it on Tuesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) has rejected revelations his deputy and Defence Minister Richard Marles (left) did not get key readiness briefings for years. Credit: News Corp Australia, Martin Ollman / NewsWire 'Well, that's just absurd, that's just absurd,' Mr Albanese told Nine's Today. Pressed further, he said Mr Marles was 'of course' briefed. 'That's just ridiculous, frankly,' Mr Albanese said. 'I haven't seen that report, but we sit in the National Security Committee with the Chief of the Defence Force. 'We meet regularly. I certainly have met with heads of all of the armed forces regularly, and that is just completely incorrect.' He said the extra $57bn Labor had pumped into expanding capability 'has come directly after discussions and engagement, obviously with Defence'. 'And in the last budget in March, indeed, we brought forward a billion dollars of additional spending, bringing to over $10bn our additional commitments over the forward estimates as well,' Mr Albanese said. Preparedness reports detail what can be deployed in the event of a war or natural disaster – key information against a backdrop of looming conflict in the Indo-Pacific and increasingly common extreme weather events. Labor's handling of defence has come under a microscope since the US last month demanded Australia hike the ADF's budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP. Mr Albanese has resisted, saying Australia's national security was a matter for Canberra, not Washington. He has also said his government would first determine need and then allocate funds rather than set a flat GDP target. But the government's position has put Australia at odds with its allies across the world, with all NATO members bar Spain agreeing to lift defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP last week. Closer to home, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea have all recently committed to spending more amid warnings from the Trump administration the region faces graver threats than Europe. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took a thinly veiled shot at Australia last week, saying if European countries can agree to hike defence spending, then US allies in the Indo Pacific 'can do it as well'. 'I mean, look, if our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do it, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well,' she said, responding to an Australian journalist. 'But as for our specific relations and discussions, I will let the President speak on those.' Though whether the Trump administration would actually seek to mirror a NATO target for allies in the Indo Pacific remains unclear.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CJCSC meets leadership of Australia during his visit
ISLAMABAD: General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) visited Australia to attend 14th session of Annual Defence and Security Talks. During the visit, Chairman JCSC met high-ranking civilian and military leadership of Australia including Admiral David Johnston, Chief of Defence Forces, Andrew Shearer, Director General Office of National Intelligence (ONI), Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of Australian Army and Gemma Huggins, Ambassador Counter Terrorism at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, according to an ISPR statement. Defence and Security Talks aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and identifying areas for further expanding defence collaboration between the respective militaries. During the meetings, both sides engaged in discussions on wide range of issues including evolving global and regional environment, security challenges and opportunities to enhance existing bilateral military exchanges. During the visit, CJCSC delivered a lecture in Australian Defence College (ADC) on Pakistan's Security Perspective and highlighted Pakistan's contributions to regional peace and stability; and also visited Australian naval ship HMAS Adelaide. Earlier, upon arrival at CDF office, a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent presented guard of honour to CJCSC. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
