UK shows off military might as Carrier Strike Group arrives in Darwin
Ahead of the fleet's arrival Britain's new High Commissioner Dame Sarah MacIntosh talked up the UK-Australia partnership as an 'anchor relationship in a dangerous world'.
The prosperity and stability of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions were 'indivisible,' she said.
'We are in an era of radical uncertainty, to be navigated with agility, speed and clarity.'
Operation Highmast, led by Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales, embarked on its mission to the Pacific and Australia in late April as a signal of the British Government's intent to maintain a presence in the Indo-Pacific despite the war in Ukraine on Europe's doorstep.
The international Task Group is made up of five core ships, 24 F-35 fighter jets, and 17 helicopters, centred around the UK's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
Its deployment follows a British Government commitment to hike defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027, raising it well above Australia's projected target of 2.33 per cent by 2033.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer went even further in June, pledging to boost Britain's overall defence and security spending to five per cent of economic output by 2035 to meet a NATO target – the highest level since the Cold War.
Australia's Government has so far refused to follow its UK ally to lift its spending any higher, deferring to a defence review next year and a 'needs-based' approach despite pressure from the Trump administration to pour 3.5 per cent of GDP into defence spending.
The participation of the UK's Carrier Strike Group in Australia's multinational exercise Talisman Sabre comes alongside Britain's renewed commitment to the $368 billion trilateral AUKUS program to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
British AUKUS envoy Sir Stephen Lovegrove told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute earlier this month that London viewed AUKUS as a 'momentous collaboration' between three allies, playing down fears about an ongoing Pentagon review of the landmark project.
More than 3,000 UK personnel are taking part in Talisman Sabre, the largest military exercise Australia has ever hosted, with the participation of 19 countries in total, including the United States.
The UK contingent includes British Army and Royal Air Force units in drills to build towards 'full operational capability' of the UK's carrier strike group, said a statement from the High Commission.
It said the deployment demonstrated British commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific at a time when trade between the UK and the region accounted for 17 per cent of total UK trade in the 12 months to September 2024.
'
The visit demonstrates how the UK is delivering on our Strategic Defence Review commitments to the Indo-Pacific,' said Dame Sarah MacIntosh.
'It's about turning policy into action, together with our allies and partners here in Australia.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
18 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Jonno Duniam: Childcare bill still needs ‘interrogation' despite fast-track
In an early show of bipartisan goodwill, a Labor childcare Bill is expected to pass through parliament with relative ease, but big issues within the new law are yet to be ironed out by the federal opposition, which is concerned about the children who could be left behind. The new legislation, which was tabled in parliament by federal Education Minister Jason Clare on Wednesday, was proposed in the wake of shocking news out of Victoria where a man is accused of 70 separate instances of child abuse. Joshua Brown, 26, worked at 20 childcare centres between 2017 and May 2025. Addressing parliament, Mr Clare said 'mums and dads of thousands of children' were undergoing immense levels of stress and trauma surrounding the wellbeing of their kids. 'Governments of different colours, state and federal, have taken action but not enough and not fast enough. That's the truth,' he said. 'We have to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk – or are carried – through the doors of an early childhood education and care service at centres across the country.' Opposition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said he was 'ultimately satisfied' with the proposed Bill, which he said the opposition 'will not delay the passage of … in any way'. 'We'll get these things through parliament this fortnight, but we now need to focus on state and territory governments and what they do to protect children in health care,' he told the ABC's Sally Sara on Radio National on Thursday morning. 'We've got our party room and other arrangements to consider these laws that have only just been introduced, but soon after that I expect they'll be passed and enforced.' Despite the optimism, Mr Duniam said the opposition still had questions for the government about particular elements of the proposed laws. One issue revolves around 'childcare deserts', parts of the country – usually in regional and remote Australia – that have significantly less childcare options than our nation's urban hubs. One feature of the Bill allows the government to withdraw subsidies for centres that perform their child protection duties poorly, but families with no other options may end up bearing the brunt of the punishment. 'A question I've put to the government was 'well, what happens if the funding is withdrawn?' Either a centre is shut and no services are available or, in some cases, when under these arrangements funding would be withdrawn, (the centre) might then send a bill for 100 per cent of the cost to the parents, and that would be unacceptable,' Mr Duniam said. 'This is something that remains for interrogation.' When asked if mandatory CCTV would be discussed, Mr Duniam said he was 'kind of baffled' that it wasn't already enforced. 'It is in centres but obviously not mandatory in all jurisdictions. I think the government needs to get it right in terms of its deployment,' he said. 'There are privacy concerns. We know CCTV has been used by perpetrators of these horrendous acts, so while it is a safety measure, we need to make sure appropriate safeguards are in place.'
News.com.au
25 minutes ago
- News.com.au
SuperCoach EPL kicks off: Premier League fantasy just got serious
The ultimate Premier League fantasy experience is here and it's now part of the SuperCoach universe. In a landmark move that reshapes the Australian fantasy sports landscape, Sportsdeck's Dream Team EPL has merged with SuperCoach, launching a bold new era for Premier League fans under the banner of SuperCoach EPL. This exciting transformation brings together the rich heritage of Sportsdeck's fantasy football platform with the powerhouse of SuperCoach, delivering fans a deeper, smarter and more strategic way to play. Why SuperCoach EPL? This isn't just a rebrand. SuperCoach EPL takes the game to another level with 21 different scoring stats, meaning every pass, tackle and shot carries weight. From defenders who rack up clearances to midfielders who dominate possession, the expanded scoring system rewards every aspect of football intelligence. It's a new challenge for fantasy managers who thrive on detail and tactical nuance. Four ways to play SuperCoach EPL SuperCoach EPL comes with four exciting formats, all built for fans who want to take their Premier League passion to the next level. Classic: Build your squad with a £100 million salary cap and select 15 players who score every round. Draft: Take part in a live draft where each manager selects a unique team – no player can be picked twice. EPL Cup: A knockout tournament starting in Round 13, featuring the top-performing Classic managers after Round 12. Survive and advance to win bragging rights – and $500. Tipping: Back your football instincts by picking match results each round. Whether you're a fantasy pro or Premier League tragic, there's a format to suit your style. Weekly price moves and real-time strategy SuperCoach EPL introduces a dynamic player pricing system, with values shifting each week based on form. That means smart trades, value picks and early-season bolters can make or break your season. It also means strategy is always evolving. No set-and-forget line-ups here. Every round presents a new opportunity to adjust your tactics, take calculated risks and outwit your rivals. Fresh features and fierce competition Fantasy fans will love the addition of the SuperCoach Cup, a high-stakes knockout tournament offering a $500 cash prize and ultimate bragging rights. And for those navigating injuries or chasing points, the new Trade Boosts feature gives you added flexibility when it matters most. The next level is here With a sleek new design and fully integrated SuperCoach experience, SuperCoach EPL combines gameplay, stats and social rivalry like never before. Whether you're a long-time SportsDeck player or a Premier League fan new to fantasy football, this is your invitation to experience the best of both worlds – with deeper strategy, richer data and bigger rewards. SuperCoach Plus is your ultimate SuperCoach EPL companion Already a SuperCoach Plus subscriber? Then you've unlocked the full fantasy football toolkit. Gain the upper hand in your EPL league with projected player scores, the powerful Team Optimiser, Trade Assist, and exclusive stats and insights you won't find anywhere else. To explore everything SuperCoach Plus has to offer, just tap the SuperCoach Plus button in the app or on the website. Join now SuperCoach EPL is live now and free to play with prizes up for grabs – $2000 to first, $500 to second and $500 for winning the Cup. Build your squad, challenge your mates and take on the best fantasy managers in the country. Stay tuned across our SuperCoach and News Corp networks for expert tips, analysis and updates as the 2025/26 Premier League season gets underway.
West Australian
28 minutes ago
- West Australian
Australia lifts biosecurity ban on US beef after decade-long review, aim to ease Trump tariffs
Australia has opened the door to more US beef imports by lifting biosecurity restrictions, as the government seeks ways to dampen the blow from Donald Trump's tariff regime. The federal government revealed the changes on Thursday while stressing that the decision follows a decade-long science-based review. 'The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity,' Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. 'Australia stands for open and fair trade - our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this. '(The department) is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks.' Although the US has been able to send beef to Australia since 2019, any beef raised in Canada or Mexico before being slaughtered and processed in the US was previously barred due to biosecurity concerns. One concern was that Mexico's livestock tracking system could inadvertently lead producers to import beef from parts of the continent where there were disease outbreaks. But the latest announcement will lift the ban on beef sourced from Canada or Mexico after the US introduced more robust movement controls in late 2024 and early 2025 allowing for improved identification and tracing throughout the supply chain. The change could be used as a bargaining chip as Australia continues to push for tariff exemptions from the US after the US president earlier this year demanded Canberra lift the beef import restrictions. Australia is the biggest exporter of beef to the US. According to Bendigo Bank's recent mid-year agriculture outlook, Aussie beef will continue to be on the menu in the US, where herd numbers are in decline due to drought and increased costs of agricultural inputs. Most Australian goods sent to the US currently face a 10 per cent tariff, while steel and aluminium products have been slapped with a 50 per cent tariff. Mr Trump has also threatened a tariff on pharmaceutical imports to the US, which is one of Australia's biggest exports to its ally. Although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to secure a face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump - after their first scheduled talks were scuppered by the conflict in the Middle East - Australia has largely avoided the brunt of the tariffs as most of its exports are only exposed to the baseline levy. But other aspects of the US-Australia relationship remain uncertain. The nuclear submarine deal between Australia, the US and the UK - under the AUKUS security alliance - could be in peril after the Pentagon launched a review to examine whether the agreement aligns with Mr Trump's 'US first' agenda. However, Mr Albanese has confirmed Australia made another scheduled payment as part of the deal to acquire US nuclear submarines, taking the total paid to $1.6 billion so far. 'It's about increasing ... their industrial capacity' to build the submarines, he told ABC television on Wednesday. Under the $368 billion program, Australia will buy at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US sometime in the early 2030s. A new class of nuclear submarines will be built in Adelaide to be delivered in the 2040s.
