Latest news with #JasonWalk
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Defence warns Australia is vulnerable to China on critical minerals
A senior military officer has warned Australia's defence is vulnerable to China's monopoly on critical minerals and that resources exports out of WA could be stopped if tensions boil over into conflict in our region. Major General Jason Walk, head of Defence's national support division, warned government and resource sector representatives that civilian and military cooperation had to overcome serious deficiencies and vulnerabilities to ensure Australia could cope with any conflict. Defence is making preparations akin to those leading up to and during World War II in response to increasing competition between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific, although there isn't any inevitable pathway to conflict. But there was 'no dedicated bag of gold' for the work, which would take innovative thinking and closer coordination to make it happen, Major General Walk told the Pilbara Summit on Thursday. His warning comes after Chief of the Defence Force David Johnston said Australia needed to start preparing for homeland combat operations . Major General Walk recalled that in the years before WWII broke out, the government established a small economic cabinet to deal with wartime economic policy, working alongside the war cabinet, on efforts such as reducing dependence on overseas imports by encouraging domestic production of essential goods. Similar work is happening now. Australia's local supply of critical minerals gave it a strong strategic advantage, but it was vulnerable because it lacked capacity to do much more than dig them up, Major General Walk said. 'China's dominance over critical material supply chains leaves us exposed to any actions taken by them to restrict access,' he said, citing antimony as an example. 'Defence has a range of capabilities that require this mineral. Antimony is mined here in Australia, but is then exported to be refined and brought back to Australia to be manufactured into products in which we are global leaders.' Dealing with these gaps in supply chains would reduce strategic dependencies but also give opportunities for growth and geopolitical leverage. He backed the Department of Industry, Science and Resources' work on a critical minerals strategic reserve and government investment in processing facilities. Defence is already involved in a whole-of-government effort to secure critical minerals supply chains. It's also looking at ports and airports across the Pilbara and thinking about how to mobilise the workforce that will be required. 'Crisis through geostrategic tension or conflict may be disruptive and include, for example, a pause to mining exports,' Major General Walk warned. On top of this, there are 'severe risks, deficiencies and vulnerabilities that would prevent, hinder or seriously affect Defence's capacity and capability to build a defence presence in this (Pilbara) region'. Major General Walk issued a call to industry to start looking at where it could support national security efforts or how it might be able to lend expertise or pivot operations during a crisis. He cited the distillers who switched to making hand sanitiser during COVID, and the initiatives of BHP head Essington Lewis during WWII to stockpile materials for munitions and speed up plane-building. 'What is the hand sanitiser equivalent of the mining sector?' he asked, suggesting Defence could call on mines across northern WA to convert diesel storage into jet fuel storage. 'In describing this work and proposing there is further opportunity for collaboration, I wish to emphasise this does not come without challenge. 'There has been no dedicated bag of gold assigned to this work. It therefore demands innovation to explore where opportunity resides.'
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No. 5 LSU holds off No. 9 Oklahoma, sweeps series
No. 5 LSU holds off No. 9 Oklahoma, sweeps series The No. 9 Oklahoma baseball team probably won't be the No. 9 baseball team when the new set of USA Today Coaches Poll rankings come out Monday. OU lost to LSU, 3-2, on Saturday and was swept in the weekend Southeastern Conference series. This is the first time the Sooners have been swept this year. Oklahoma had its chance to salvage Saturday's finale. Dasan Harris hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to pull OU within a run, and Jason Walk followed with a walk on four pitches to move Harris into scoring position. But Trey Gambill flew out to center, ending things. The Sooners left runners at second and third base in the second inning, at first and third in the third inning, at third base in the fifth inning, and at second base in the eighth inning. LSU pitchers Chase Shores and Zac Cowan walked more OU batters, six, than they allowed hits, five, creating the trouble. Defense didn't help matters, either, as LSU scored two of its three runs unearned. Derek Curiel hit a ground ball to Oklahoma second baseman Kyle Branch with two outs in the second inning, but the ball went through Branch's legs. Luis Hernandez and Tanner Reaves each scored on the play. Curiel picked up a proper RBI in the fourth inning on a double. Both of OU's runs were unearned against LSU pitchers, too. Jaxon Willits scored on a passed ball in the second and Brayden Horton scored on Harris' single in the ninth after reaching on an error. Malachi Witherspoon was tagged with the loss as he gave up all three runs, only the one earned, on five hits and three walks over his six innings. Shores pitched five innings in collecting the win for the Tigers. The Sooners are back at L. Dale Mitchell Park all next week. They host No. 19 Dallas Baptist on Wednesday, then will settle in for a three-game set against No. 20 Vanderbilt.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No. 9 Sooners baseball team loses in finale at Alabama, drops first SEC series
No. 9 Sooners baseball team loses in finale at Alabama, drops first SEC series The No. 9 Oklahoma baseball team just needed one more two-run inning to give themselves a chance. It didn't happen. Instead, OU fell to No. 11 Alabama in the third game of a three-game series on Sunday, 8-6, allowing the Crimson Tide to take the set and push themselves a game in front of Oklahoma in the Southeastern Conference standings. The series loss, Oklahoma's first in league play since joining the SEC, nearly ended up a series win after a furious rally. OU trailed 8-2 entering the seventh inning when its bats came alive. Kyle Branch scored on a fielder's choice and Brayden Horton hit an RBI single to pull two runs back. In the eighth, Dayton Tockey smacked a two-run home run to make things interesting. Then the rain hit - for the second time - and the game was put on hold for about a half-hour. But with the rain leaving, so did the Sooners bats. Alabama closer Carson Ozmer retired Dasan Harris, Jason Walk and Horon in order to finish off the Tide victory. The Sooners rued their missed opportunities. OU left two runners in scoring position in the first inning and another two in scoring position in the eighth. They also committed two errors in Alabama's three-run fourth inning. Meanwhile, Alabama jumped on Oklahoma starter Malachi Witherspoon. He was tagged for all eight runs - though just five earned - on seven hits, a walk and three hit batters in five innings. OU's bullpen gave up just two more baserunners over the final three innings, but it was too late. In addition to Hockey's home run, Jason Walk also went yard. His inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning made the game 8-2. He finished 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs. Jaxon Willits and Sam Christiansen each went 2 for 4 with a run, while Willits added an RBI and a stolen base. Oklahoma is back on the field at in Tuesday in Frisco, Texas, for a one-off game against former Big 12 rival Texas Tech. SEC play picks back up Thursday through Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park against LSU.
