Alarm sounded over navy ships riddled with defects
The navy's biggest ships are riddled with hundreds of defects and are failing to meet availability targets, as chiefs grapple with underfunded maintenance budgets and a lack of skilled engineers to keep the vessels at sea, according to a scathing audit report.
As the Albanese government comes under intense scrutiny to lift defence spending, the auditor-general aired internal concerns that the navy's failure could shake American and British faith in Australia's ability to operate nuclear-powered submarines.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Defence Minister Richard Marles celebrates a win amid Coalition criticism
With a cloud hanging over the AUKUS submarine deal and the Opposition attacking the government for refusing to bow to United States pressure to lift Defence spending, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is preparing to celebrate a win. The Albanese government's plan for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy will hit a milestone on Saturday with the addition of the HMAS Arafura. Built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia, the vessel entered Fremantle this week ahead of a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, following testing and evaluation by Defence. Mr Marles said the commissioning of HMAS Arafura "marks an important milestone" and meant the Navy could "continue to ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders". "We will continue to see the Navy introduce new vessels into its fleet," he said. It is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel of the Navy's surface fleet, with a second - NUSHIP Eyre - having been built and awaiting acceptance by the Navy. On Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese resisted pressure to commit a higher proportion of GDP to defence spending, as the US insisted its allies increase their share. The Opposition heaped criticism on Mr Albanese this week over defence spending and the Prime Minister's inability, to date, to secure a make-up meeting or phone call with United States President Donald Trump, who cancelled a face-to-face last week as he left the G7 Leaders' Summit early to deal with the Israel-Iran crisis. Mr Albanese had been expected to seek Mr Trump's ongoing support for Australia's $368 billion AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, which has been subjected to a Pentagon review. Australia is contracted to buy three off-the-shelf nuclear submarines from the US before making eight of its own, with the first submarine not expected to join the Australian fleet for years. The US only has to deliver the submarines if it has enough for the US Navy's use - and American shipyards are not on track to meet domestic targets, leading to fears the deal could fall over. On Friday, the Prime Minister said his government was "making sure that Australia has the capability that we need". "We've increased it by $57 billion over the medium term and by more than $10 billion in the short term as well," he told reporters in Sydney. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is preparing to fly to the US for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of discussions between the foreign ministers of Quad alliance nations. Four more Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. They boast a greater range of 4000 nautical miles and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels, with improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel. The procurement of the new fleet responds to recommendations of the Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and her defence spokesman Angus Taylor this week blasted the government for refusing to commit to higher defence spending. On Friday, Mr Taylor said boosting spending levels was not about doing what the US wanted. "This is not about being bullied," he said. "This is about doing the right thing for our great country, and that's what we want to see." NATO member countries announced this week that they had agreed to spend 5 per cent of their economic output on defence and security, after calls to do so by Mr Trump. This led to increased pressure on Washington's Indo-Pacific allies to do the same, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying countries such as Australia should follow suit. "If our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do that, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well," she said. NATO nations will be expected to spend 3.5 per cent of their gross domestic product on core defence and a further 1.5 per cent on broader security. Australia's defence spending is set to rise from 2 per cent of GDP now to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, with the Coalition calling for a 3 per cent target within 10 years. With AAP With a cloud hanging over the AUKUS submarine deal and the Opposition attacking the government for refusing to bow to United States pressure to lift Defence spending, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is preparing to celebrate a win. The Albanese government's plan for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy will hit a milestone on Saturday with the addition of the HMAS Arafura. Built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia, the vessel entered Fremantle this week ahead of a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, following testing and evaluation by Defence. Mr Marles said the commissioning of HMAS Arafura "marks an important milestone" and meant the Navy could "continue to ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders". "We will continue to see the Navy introduce new vessels into its fleet," he said. It is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel of the Navy's surface fleet, with a second - NUSHIP Eyre - having been built and awaiting acceptance by the Navy. On Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese resisted pressure to commit a higher proportion of GDP to defence spending, as the US insisted its allies increase their share. The Opposition heaped criticism on Mr Albanese this week over defence spending and the Prime Minister's inability, to date, to secure a make-up meeting or phone call with United States President Donald Trump, who cancelled a face-to-face last week as he left the G7 Leaders' Summit early to deal with the Israel-Iran crisis. Mr Albanese had been expected to seek Mr Trump's ongoing support for Australia's $368 billion AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, which has been subjected to a Pentagon review. Australia is contracted to buy three off-the-shelf nuclear submarines from the US before making eight of its own, with the first submarine not expected to join the Australian fleet for years. The US only has to deliver the submarines if it has enough for the US Navy's use - and American shipyards are not on track to meet domestic targets, leading to fears the deal could fall over. On Friday, the Prime Minister said his government was "making sure that Australia has the capability that we need". "We've increased it by $57 billion over the medium term and by more than $10 billion in the short term as well," he told reporters in Sydney. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is preparing to fly to the US for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of discussions between the foreign ministers of Quad alliance nations. Four more Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. They boast a greater range of 4000 nautical miles and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels, with improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel. The procurement of the new fleet responds to recommendations of the Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and her defence spokesman Angus Taylor this week blasted the government for refusing to commit to higher defence spending. On Friday, Mr Taylor said boosting spending levels was not about doing what the US wanted. "This is not about being bullied," he said. "This is about doing the right thing for our great country, and that's what we want to see." NATO member countries announced this week that they had agreed to spend 5 per cent of their economic output on defence and security, after calls to do so by Mr Trump. This led to increased pressure on Washington's Indo-Pacific allies to do the same, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying countries such as Australia should follow suit. "If our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do that, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well," she said. NATO nations will be expected to spend 3.5 per cent of their gross domestic product on core defence and a further 1.5 per cent on broader security. Australia's defence spending is set to rise from 2 per cent of GDP now to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, with the Coalition calling for a 3 per cent target within 10 years. With AAP With a cloud hanging over the AUKUS submarine deal and the Opposition attacking the government for refusing to bow to United States pressure to lift Defence spending, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is preparing to celebrate a win. The Albanese government's plan for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy will hit a milestone on Saturday with the addition of the HMAS Arafura. Built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia, the vessel entered Fremantle this week ahead of a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, following testing and evaluation by Defence. Mr Marles said the commissioning of HMAS Arafura "marks an important milestone" and meant the Navy could "continue to ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders". "We will continue to see the Navy introduce new vessels into its fleet," he said. It is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel of the Navy's surface fleet, with a second - NUSHIP Eyre - having been built and awaiting acceptance by the Navy. On Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese resisted pressure to commit a higher proportion of GDP to defence spending, as the US insisted its allies increase their share. The Opposition heaped criticism on Mr Albanese this week over defence spending and the Prime Minister's inability, to date, to secure a make-up meeting or phone call with United States President Donald Trump, who cancelled a face-to-face last week as he left the G7 Leaders' Summit early to deal with the Israel-Iran crisis. Mr Albanese had been expected to seek Mr Trump's ongoing support for Australia's $368 billion AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, which has been subjected to a Pentagon review. Australia is contracted to buy three off-the-shelf nuclear submarines from the US before making eight of its own, with the first submarine not expected to join the Australian fleet for years. The US only has to deliver the submarines if it has enough for the US Navy's use - and American shipyards are not on track to meet domestic targets, leading to fears the deal could fall over. On Friday, the Prime Minister said his government was "making sure that Australia has the capability that we need". "We've increased it by $57 billion over the medium term and by more than $10 billion in the short term as well," he told reporters in Sydney. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is preparing to fly to the US for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of discussions between the foreign ministers of Quad alliance nations. Four more Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. They boast a greater range of 4000 nautical miles and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels, with improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel. The procurement of the new fleet responds to recommendations of the Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and her defence spokesman Angus Taylor this week blasted the government for refusing to commit to higher defence spending. On Friday, Mr Taylor said boosting spending levels was not about doing what the US wanted. "This is not about being bullied," he said. "This is about doing the right thing for our great country, and that's what we want to see." NATO member countries announced this week that they had agreed to spend 5 per cent of their economic output on defence and security, after calls to do so by Mr Trump. This led to increased pressure on Washington's Indo-Pacific allies to do the same, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying countries such as Australia should follow suit. "If our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do that, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well," she said. NATO nations will be expected to spend 3.5 per cent of their gross domestic product on core defence and a further 1.5 per cent on broader security. Australia's defence spending is set to rise from 2 per cent of GDP now to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, with the Coalition calling for a 3 per cent target within 10 years. With AAP With a cloud hanging over the AUKUS submarine deal and the Opposition attacking the government for refusing to bow to United States pressure to lift Defence spending, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is preparing to celebrate a win. The Albanese government's plan for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy will hit a milestone on Saturday with the addition of the HMAS Arafura. Built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia, the vessel entered Fremantle this week ahead of a commissioning ceremony on Saturday, following testing and evaluation by Defence. Mr Marles said the commissioning of HMAS Arafura "marks an important milestone" and meant the Navy could "continue to ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders". "We will continue to see the Navy introduce new vessels into its fleet," he said. It is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel of the Navy's surface fleet, with a second - NUSHIP Eyre - having been built and awaiting acceptance by the Navy. On Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese resisted pressure to commit a higher proportion of GDP to defence spending, as the US insisted its allies increase their share. The Opposition heaped criticism on Mr Albanese this week over defence spending and the Prime Minister's inability, to date, to secure a make-up meeting or phone call with United States President Donald Trump, who cancelled a face-to-face last week as he left the G7 Leaders' Summit early to deal with the Israel-Iran crisis. Mr Albanese had been expected to seek Mr Trump's ongoing support for Australia's $368 billion AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, which has been subjected to a Pentagon review. Australia is contracted to buy three off-the-shelf nuclear submarines from the US before making eight of its own, with the first submarine not expected to join the Australian fleet for years. The US only has to deliver the submarines if it has enough for the US Navy's use - and American shipyards are not on track to meet domestic targets, leading to fears the deal could fall over. On Friday, the Prime Minister said his government was "making sure that Australia has the capability that we need". "We've increased it by $57 billion over the medium term and by more than $10 billion in the short term as well," he told reporters in Sydney. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is preparing to fly to the US for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of discussions between the foreign ministers of Quad alliance nations. Four more Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. They boast a greater range of 4000 nautical miles and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels, with improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel. The procurement of the new fleet responds to recommendations of the Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and her defence spokesman Angus Taylor this week blasted the government for refusing to commit to higher defence spending. On Friday, Mr Taylor said boosting spending levels was not about doing what the US wanted. "This is not about being bullied," he said. "This is about doing the right thing for our great country, and that's what we want to see." NATO member countries announced this week that they had agreed to spend 5 per cent of their economic output on defence and security, after calls to do so by Mr Trump. This led to increased pressure on Washington's Indo-Pacific allies to do the same, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying countries such as Australia should follow suit. "If our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do that, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well," she said. NATO nations will be expected to spend 3.5 per cent of their gross domestic product on core defence and a further 1.5 per cent on broader security. Australia's defence spending is set to rise from 2 per cent of GDP now to 2.3 per cent by 2033/34, with the Coalition calling for a 3 per cent target within 10 years. With AAP
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Major super boost for 200,000 Aussies
Major superannuation changes are set to roll out across the country starting from July 1, set to help millions of women bridge the gender pay gap. Starting next Tuesday parents taking government-funded paid parental leave will also receive a superannuation payment. This additional payment is estimated to help the near 200,000 Australian mothers each year and narrow the gender superannuation gap by around 30 per cent. According to the ASFA a woman taking 24 weeks leave the superannuation contributions will lead to $7,200 more at the time of retirement. When the regime is extended to 26 weeks, the boost to the super balance increases to around $7,800. Mothers are tipped to be among the winners when the superannuation changes come into effect on July 1. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NCA NewsWire ASFA chief executive Mary Delahunty said this is a major win for Australian women who take time out of the paid workforce to have and raise children, and helps reduce the superannuation gender gap. 'While compulsory superannuation has been delivering on its purpose of providing a dignified retirement for most Australians, it's long been known that women are often financially disadvantaged in retirement due to time taken out of work to have and raise a family. she said. 'The introduction of superannuation payments on government paid parental leave from 1 July on will go a long way to closing the gender superannuation gap.' Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers said paying super on paid parental leave from this Tuesday is part of our efforts to ensure parents earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more as well. 'A sornger paid parental leave system is good for families and good for the economy as well,' he told NewsWire. 'This important change means a more dignified and secure retirement for more Australian parents and especially women.' A second change which will see nearly 14 million workers will see their superannuation guarantee increase from 11.5 to 12 per cent starting from July 1. While the changes seem small, the treasury uses an example of a 27 year old woman who has taken up a graduate position as a professional lawyer. 'During her career, she takes an extended six-year career break for the birth and care of her two children,' treasury estimates. 'Her balance will be $22,000 higher at retirement as a result of the permanent 0.5 percentage point increase in the SG rate from 11.5 to 12 per cent.' Treasurer Chalmers said this will make a meaningful difference for Aussies. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Chalmers says these reforms will make a meaningful difference for millions of Australians, helping them work towards a well-deserved and dignified retirement. 'Since we've come to government, we've increased the superannuation guarantee four times, and this means an extra $98,000 at retirement for a 30 year old earning the average full-time income,' Mr Chalmers said. While the Albanese government has implemented an increase of the Superannuation guarantee from 10 to 12 per cent. It was the then Morrison government who started the changes, which saw superannuation lift from 9.5 per cent to 12, at a 0.5 per cent increment a year. The treasury department says the changes to Tuesday's superannuation guarantee will see 14 million employees have their retirement lifted. The ASFA said this increase means a median 30-year old worker making $75,000 a year will add about $20,000 to their superannuation balance by the time they retire. This $20,000 increase will mean the median 30-year old will retire with $610,000 in superannuation, above the $53,383 a year or $595,000 they would need for a comfortable retirement. ASFA says a couple requires $73,875 a year or $690,000 combined in total to live comfortably in retirement using their super plus age pension top-ups. The major caveat to these figures for singles and couples is owning your own home by retirement. The National Minimum Wage and award wages will increase by 3.5 per cent from 1 July 2025, adding $0.85 per hour to $24.95 for full time staff. Treasury estimates this change will add $75,114 over the average working life of an employee. This includes 353,000 retail industry workers, 287,000 social, community, home care and disability workers, and 234,000 hospitality worker
7NEWS
9 hours ago
- 7NEWS
FBI agents were pulled off counterterrorism and sent to immigration. Now they're being sent back
The US is returning FBI counterterrorism agents who were ordered to focus on immigration cases back to their old jobs because of concern about potential threats from Iran, four people with direct knowledge of the matter told NBC News. Don Holstead, the assistant director for counterterrorism, issued guidance over the weekend reassigning agents who work on counterterrorism, counterintelligence and cyber issues but had been sidetracked by immigration duties, two of the people said. All four people said the move was related to the possibility of Iran's retaliating against the United States for its recent military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. NBC News previously reported that Iranian officials threatened US officials that they would unleash so-called sleeper cells inside the United States if it were attacked. The FBI said it does not confirm or deny operational changes. 'However, we continuously assess and realign our resources to respond to the most pressing threats to our national security and to ensure the safety of the American people,' it said in a statement. Past warnings For months, current and former FBI officials have warned about a new requirement that FBI employees across the country, including some who specialise in national security, spend significant amounts of time helping Department of Homeland Security officers track down undocumented immigrants, which is not traditionally an FBI role. FBI Director Kash Patel imposed the requirements pursuant to Trump administration executive orders. Many current and former bureau officials had expressed concern that given the FBI's limited resources, crucial national security threats could get less attention because of the focus on immigration. There have also been a series of departures from key national security jobs in the Justice Department and the FBI. NBC News reported this week on a so-called brain drain from national security positions due to resignation in both agencies. 'The firings and retirements have had some effect, but the greater impact is from the top-down redirection of FBI resources to immigration and to cartels,' said an FBI employee who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'The counterterrorism mission has been fundamentally redefined to treat drug cartels as designated Foreign Terrorist Organisations. That has consumed huge resources across the FBI field and at HQ and at DOJ.' Traditionally, cartels and criminals have been investigated by the criminal sections of the FBI and the Justice Department, while terrorism came under each organisation's national security sections, staffed by different people, FBI employees said. In theory, if cartels are now international terrorist organisations, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division should manage those cases, the employees added, but agents from that division are not experts in cartels. At the same time, many criminal squads do not usually work with intelligence information and do not operate in facilities designed to protect classified documents. The FBI is relatively small — 38,000 employees, many of them not agents, officials said. So shifting agents to new missions has an impact. 'When you shift to make the border the top priority, you necessarily lower other priorities,' the FBI employee said. 'The FBI doesn't admit it, but it's maths.' A second FBI employee said the shift of agents toward immigration had affected the bureau. 'We were already spread pretty thin. It will only take one crisis to really stress the system,' the second FBI employee said. 'On the terrorism front, I think the only way we will see the impact, unfortunately, is when something bad happens.' A third FBI employee praised the reallocation of resources in the wake of the threats from Iran. 'Guess they are realising this whole national security thing is important, after all,' the employee said. Cutbacks at DHS A senior DHS official and a former DHS official said there have been cuts to the several offices involved in DHS' counterterrorism efforts since Trump returned to office. Those who have been fired or reassigned include 'a lot of really highly intelligent, highly qualified people,' the senior official said. They have decades of experience in intelligence gathering, screening and vetting people for possible terror ties, working with communities to prevent possible attacks and working with law enforcement to stop attackers. 'It was a small team, but it has been much reduced,' the official said, noting that at least six people in the department's office of policy who handled counterterrorism were fired or reassigned. The official, who has worked under several administrations, said regular meetings on counterterrorism with top DHS officials were rescheduled and eventually cancelled. 'The focus is immigration and not counterterrorism,' the senior DHS official said. Senior leaders at DHS' Centre for Prevention Programs and Partnerships were fired or reassigned because of a perception the office was focused on right-wing domestic extremist groups, the official said. But the office's mission was to build local partnerships and administer grants to prevent violence and terrorism motivated by ideologies across the political spectrum.
