Latest news with #HarmonyWeek
The Australian
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Australian
Defence department uses taxpayer funds to produce cookbook
They say an army marches on its stomach and so too does Defence's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group, which has produced a 'Taste of Harmony' cookbook with taxpayers' funds. The group, headed by Air Marshal Leon Phillips, has its work cut out establishing a $20bn-plus domestic missile manufacturing industry – a goal that remains a distant one. But Phillips believes the 'incredible power' of food will help his team get the job done, authorising an $1800 print run of the recipe book to celebrate Harmony Week earlier this year. 'In line with this year's theme of 'Everyone Belongs', this book serves as a reminder that every member of GWEO group is valued as we work together towards our shared purpose,' he says in the book's foreword. 'I encourage each of you to continue to embrace our shared values and create an environment where everyone truly belongs.' The group's staff contributed their favourite recipes, including a Chinese-inspired 'Mystery meat stir fry', and a 'Loaded potato soup'. Phillips, a keen amateur gourmet, shares his recipe for Spaghetti ai gamberi, urging his subordinates to 'pair this meal with great company and a lovely dry riesling'. But not everyone shares his passion for food-led team building, with orders coming down for the book to be buried amid high-level concerns over the GWEO group's progress. The Australian obtained a copy of the culinary compendium as Defence's most senior officers braced for news of looming job cuts, with dozens of commanders and senior public service executives set to face the chop. Defence Minister Richard Marles has ordered sweeping reforms to his department, warning 'everything is on the table' amid tensions over budget blowouts and delays in getting new weapons and equipment into service. The Australian revealed this week that up to 25 star-ranked Australian Defence Force officers could be drummed out, while 20 to 40 public service executive positions could be cut. It's understood senior commanders will be briefed on the changes in coming days. There was speculation in military circles this week that Defence could waive a requirement preventing former officers from taking consulting jobs for 12 months after entering civilian life. The GWEO group faces being rolled into a new armaments directorate with the department's vast and underperforming Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and its Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group. The bureaucratic shake-up would leave Phillips fighting for his job, while CASG head Chris Deeble could also be vulnerable. Mr Marles said in April 2023 he was 'confident' Australia could begin producing guided missiles within two years, but there has been little progress on the GWEO initiative. One well-placed industry source said: 'I'd be cautious about any cooking times suggested in the cookbook given the amount of time it's taking for the missile plan to come to a boil. 'They just haven't done anything. They're meant to be delivering a whole lot of locally-made missiles to increase our stocks for times of war and that just hasn't progressed beyond orders for foreign missiles that are already in our catalogue.' Acting opposition defence spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said the GWEO initiative was supposed to be manufacturing missiles, 'not writing menus'. 'Australians will rightly question why taxpayers' resources are being diverted to produce a cookbook instead of securing critical defence supply chains,' she said. 'The Labor government must explain how this reflects the urgency of the strategic environment the Prime Minister has described as 'the most complex and challenging since the Second World War'.' Eyebrows were also raised in defence circles this week at a LinkedIn post by GWEO deputy head Dan Fankhauser on an 'unforgettable' three weeks he spent attending an Oxford University advanced manufacturing leadership program. 'It was an immense privilege to spend three weeks with my amazing peers from around the globe who made the Summer 2025 cohort so memorable,' he said. 'I greatly appreciated your many insights and perspectives as we navigated the program, reflecting on our own leadership journeys, challenges and purpose. Your stories, feedback and laughter are what made the experience so unique and memorable.' Former defence minister Peter Dutton ordered his department to abandon its 'woke agenda', but the GWEO group's celebration of Harmony Day is in keeping with Mr Marles' push to leverage diversity to address the ADF's personnel crisis. 'I think what is really important is that the Defence Force needs to look like Australia,' he told The Australian soon after he was sworn in as Defence Minister. Mr Marles' looming departmental overhaul comes as the Defence budget is stretched to the limit by the AUKUS submarine program and new frigate projects, sparking warnings of a hollowed-out force with scarce munitions and a shortage of critical capabilities, including missile defence systems and long-range weapons. At the same time, the government is refusing to lift defence spending from 2 per cent of GDP to the 3.5 per cent demanded by the Trump administration. The ADF is one of the most top-heavy militaries in the world, with one study revealing Australian star-ranked officers are responsible for 11 times fewer personnel than their US counterparts. Ben Packham Foreign affairs and defence correspondent Ben Packham is The Australian's foreign affairs and defence correspondent. He has been a journalist for more than 25 years and is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Lowy Institute Media Award. Nation Stealth Electric Bikes, which produces military-grade electric bikes used by special forces, was overlooked in favour of a foreign producer despite spending $2m developing bikes for the nation's postal fleet. Defence Joe Courtney, the Democrat co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Australia Caucus, says there's a 'systemic issue' with the Pentagon and information about the AUKUS submarines review is coming in 'dribbles'.
West Australian
08-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Sign of the times: Little Grove students show their support for the deaf community on Auslan Day
Students at Little Grove Primary School celebrated Auslan Day by learning sign language and wearing their favourite colour, showing their support for the deaf community. Auslan is the sign language used by most deaf people in Australia. Little Grove teacher Allison Lilly said students had been learning sign language for two years and had been discovering the signs to accompany the school song. They can also express feelings and know the signs for colours and numbers, she said. Auslan Day, which was on April 13, commemorates the first publication of the Australian Sign Language Dictionary in 1989. During classes at Little Grove on Auslan Day, children learned about the history of the language and the importance of inclusive communication. 'These activities complemented our broader Harmony Week celebrations, which focused on fostering respect and belonging for everyone,' Ms Lilly said. 'The children have been really positive and very engaged with their learning. 'They were encouraged to wear their favourite colour instead of their school uniform because this represents our support of the deaf community and acknowledges Auslan as one of the many languages used within Australia,' she said. They also headed out to the oval for a drone shot of the school community in rainbow formation.
