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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia quietly pays US another $800 million for AUKUS despite review
Washington: Australia has quietly paid the United States another $800 million towards the AUKUS submarine deal, taking the total to $1.6 billion, despite the Trump administration placing the agreement under a review. This masthead confirmed the second payment was made in the second quarter of this year, per the agreed schedule. By the end of 2025, Canberra will have paid $US2 billion, or just over $3 billion, to the American shipbuilding industry to boost submarine production. A Defence Department spokesperson said Australia had been clear since March 2023 that it would make a 'proportionate contribution' to the American industrial base under the AUKUS agreement. 'Australia's contribution is about accelerating US production rates and maintenance to enable the delivery of Australia's future Virginia class submarines,' the spokesperson said. 'The payments are occurring in line with Australia's commitment to contribute US$2 billion by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes.' The government was unfazed by the Pentagon's review of the AUKUS agreement and said it was natural that a new US administration would want to examine the progress of key initiatives. 'All three countries are continuing to progress the AUKUS pathway at pace, ensuring it meets national and trilateral objectives,' the Defence spokesperson said. While Australia's first $800 million payment was announced with fanfare in February, when Defence Minister Richard Marles met his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington, the second payment was not announced.
The Age
an hour ago
- Business
- The Age
Australia quietly pays US another $800 million for AUKUS despite review
Washington: Australia has quietly paid the United States another $800 million towards the AUKUS submarine deal, taking the total to $1.6 billion, despite the Trump administration placing the agreement under a review. This masthead confirmed the second payment was made in the second quarter of this year, per the agreed schedule. By the end of 2025, Canberra will have paid $US2 billion, or just over $3 billion, to the American shipbuilding industry to boost submarine production. A Defence Department spokesperson said Australia had been clear since March 2023 that it would make a 'proportionate contribution' to the American industrial base under the AUKUS agreement. 'Australia's contribution is about accelerating US production rates and maintenance to enable the delivery of Australia's future Virginia class submarines,' the spokesperson said. 'The payments are occurring in line with Australia's commitment to contribute US$2 billion by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes.' The government was unfazed by the Pentagon's review of the AUKUS agreement and said it was natural that a new US administration would want to examine the progress of key initiatives. 'All three countries are continuing to progress the AUKUS pathway at pace, ensuring it meets national and trilateral objectives,' the Defence spokesperson said. While Australia's first $800 million payment was announced with fanfare in February, when Defence Minister Richard Marles met his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington, the second payment was not announced.
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
More work needed on how money is spent on defence
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Bravo Ross Gittins (Comment, 16/7). The question of defence spending is not a stand-alone one. As Gittins points out, the money spent on defence could alternatively be spent on something else ... health, education and climate change for instance, all of which we are told are in need of funding, or it could reduce our national debt, agreed to be another worthy goal. Also, who do we rely on, and more particularly who do we trust, to advise on the amount to be spent on defence? And on what items the money is to be spent? Have Defence Department experts advised? Has the Foreign Affairs Department? What input from academic defence experts? Has the general public been told the alternative ways that this money could be spent? That a politician, with no specific expertise, clearly being pressured by a foreign government and with a forward view of three years, makes these decisions that shape a 40-year national future, seems unlikely to produce a sound result. More work needed. Peter Moore, Clifton Hill There will always be a use for the sword Not to make light of Ross Gittins' excellent suggestion that we shouldn't spend too much on useless military hardware when there are more pressing needs at home, has there ever been a time when a more powerful neighbour, human nature being what it is, has decided not to plunder its neighbour's undefended assets when they seem there for the taking? One might offer educational opportunities or trade deals or bribes in exchange for ″protection″, but sooner or later hard reality dawns and just like at the end of the Bronze Age when the hill fort on the other side of the valley acquires cutting edge technology, there comes a time when you need to upgrade to your own iron swords and spear tips if you don't want to become a footnote of history. Claude Miller, Castlemaine Happy to pay more tax for peace of mind Spending whatever is necessary to make us feel safe in our own backyard can never be a waste of money. The thought of being a sitting duck to an attack and not having the America fully engaged in our defence is something that should not sit well with all Australians. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should be taking orders from Donald Trump on our defence spending and I am happy to pay higher taxes to ensure my grandchildren don't have to look over their shoulders in years to come. You can't put a price on peace of mind. Steve Naumovski, Southbank Relationship with China is important to us Thank you Ross Gittins for a balanced and much needed article regarding the constant warmongering, sabre-rattling and the calls from the United States for NATO countries and Australia to dramatically increase their defence spending. Australia needs to continue to forge a strong relationship with China. It is our most important trading partner, with the health of their economy being intrinsically linked to ours. Gittins is right to point out the ″glee with which our defenceniks″ those with vested interests, accept calls of increased spending. Continuing a Cold War mentality approach, sold through the virtues of misplaced nationalism and irrational fear, certainly lines the coffers of many. As for looking to recent history as a guide for war and aggression, it is interesting to note, that since the end of the Vietnam war, the United States have conducted conventional bombing campaigns of more than 20 countries including, Cambodia, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia and Sudan to name a few, while China has conducted none. Craig Jory, Albury, NSW THE FORUM Trade and money for us Columnist Shaun Carney, writing of our national values, suggests change can be hard to accept in assessing our relationship with the United States under Donald Trump (″ Trump or Xi for Albo? Maybe both ″, 17/7). With our lax defence spending it is clear we are happy to be a nation of freeloaders on security and one that values trade and the economy ahead of traditional democratic freedoms that evades a billion or so Chinese. We expect our AUKUS security partners to do most of the heavy defence lifting while we pursue national wealth and prosperity through better economic relations with a communist dictatorship that has an abysmal human rights record and an open policy of eventually taking its neighbour by force. Sadly, if Anthony Albanese's assessment of ″public sentiment″ is correct, we now stand for a combination of trade, money and not much else. Good luck, Taiwan. Brian O'Neil, Heidelberg Heights Reality check on care Thank you Dr Jacqueline Wilson (' I survived care, my brother didn't ', 16/7) for describing such a heart-wrenchingly sad journey you and your brother faced in the child welfare system from such a young age. For those of us who haven't experienced such difficult childhoods it's a disturbing reality check on how life can be so hard and unsatisfactory for all too many young children and adolescents caught up so powerlessly in the care of the state. It's good to know that some former wards of state have also kept this issue in the public eye and had some compensation, albeit small, but it seems little has changed despite many reports and recommendations for future improvements in the child welfare and protection systems. I was a social worker in the 1970s and am ashamed to say I didn't want to work in that area as even then, it was woefully under-resourced. It seems little has changed. Let's hope things do change for the better so that all your grit and determination ending up working in a similar field and as well, so that a life like your brother's hasn't been lost in vain. Kerin Tulloch, Hawthorn Grateful commuter Carriage comes off the rails at Clifton Hill on Sunday evening, two train lines are suspended and major delays ensue for north-east commuters. On Wednesday morning I braced for the worst, radio news telling me bus trips would be long, uncomfortable and trips delayed. Walking to Heidelberg Station I hoped there would be information and that my wait for a bus would not be long. I was greeted by PTV staff who were friendly, guiding commuters to the bus services. I quickly joined the queue for the express bus to Parliament and five minutes later a bus arrived to take me into the city. The journey was quick, free and pleasant. My trip home took a little longer due to peak-hour traffic, however it was just as pleasant as my morning commute. Plenty of PTV staff were in place to guide and assist passengers and I thanked them all as I began my short walk home. It's not all doom and gloom, leave a little earlier, know it will take a little longer but know that when things don't always go to plan, there are people doing their best to get us all to where we need to go as quickly as possible. I, for one, am grateful. Franca Mosca, Ivanhoe
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
CTV National News: What we know of an alleged anti-government militia's weapons stockpile
CTV National News: What we know of an alleged anti-government militia's weapons stockpile Canada's defence department says none of the weapons stockpiled by an alleged anti-government militia belonged to the military. Colton Praill reports.
Toronto Sun
14-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Quebec terror suspects didn't get weapons stockpile from military: Canadian Forces
The Defence Department provided more details about the four military-linked men arrested last week. Published Jul 14, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read Canada's military says the four military-linked men accused in an alleged terror plot did not get their weapons, ammunition and explosives from the Canadian Forces. In a statement Monday morning, the Department of National Defence said the stockpile 'did not originate from the Canadian Armed Forces.' The RCMP announced the arrest of the four men last week. They were scheduled to appear at a bail hearing in Quebec City on Monday. Three of the men are accused of taking actions to 'facilitate terrorist activity' and planning to form an 'anti-government militia.' The fourth man also faces multiple charges, including weapons-related offences. A large cache of weapons, explosives and other military gear was seized. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The military on Monday provided more details about the four men. Two of them — Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, and Matthew Forbes, 33 — are serving members of the Forces. They are based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City. The Forces said Corporal Chabot enrolled in the Canadian Army as a reservist in June 2019, transferring to the regular force from the Voltigeurs de Québec to the 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment in July 2023. He was not deployed. Forbes, who is a bombardier, enrolled in the Canadian Army in October 2016 and joined the 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada in November 2017. He was deployed to Operation CADENCE in 2018 and Operation REASSURANCE 2019. 'We can confirm that these individuals have not been performing military duties and do not have unescorted access to the military base,' the Forces said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'At any time, should the integrity of a CAF member be called into question, various actions include restricting access to the base, weapons, and individuals' security clearances in addition to other administrative measures. The CAF continues to take this matter very seriously, and all options will be pursued and acted upon as appropriate.' The two other men arrested were Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25. Angers-Audet, 24, enrolled in the Canadian Army as a reservist with the Voltigeurs de Québec in June 2019 and was released in May 2022 as a Private, the Defence Department said. He was not deployed. Lagacé has not served as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, but he was a civilian instructor with the 630 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Beauport, Québec, between January 2021 and September 2024. Investigators allege that Chabot, Angers-Audet and Lagacé facilitated terrorist activity and were planning to create a militia. Forbes faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, and possession of controlled items. In the statement, the Defence Department said the military police and the Canadian Army 'continue to support the ongoing investigation led by the RCMP.' Editorial Cartoons Golf World Uncategorized Toronto & GTA
