More than 300 Australian Defence Force personnel are returning to Australia in time for Christmas, after a six month deployment on Operation OKRA in Iraq.Task Group Taji 5 leaves Iraq having contributed to the development of the Iraqi Security Forces to restore security across the country.Colonel…

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Aircraft from Williamtown and Amberley have completed a training exercise with United States Air Force B-1B Lancers from the United States’ Pacific Air Force over the eastern coast of Australia. Exercise Lightning Focus included up to 30 jets flying at any…

On the 75th anniversary of the final action of HMAS Armidale (I), the Royal Australian Navy has again paused to mark the loss of 100 servicemen. During evacuation operations in the World War II, the Bathurst class corvette was sunk in action by Japanese aircraft in the Timor Sea on 1 December 1942…

After five months intensive training, Navy has graduated its newest group of officers from the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell. Commanding Officer Creswell, Captain Charles Huxtable, said the officers had been comprehensively prepared for a career in the Navy, completing the New…

Following consultation with the local community, businesses, representative groups and landholders, the Department of Defence today confirmed the Shoalwater Bay Training Area will be expanded and Defence will seek to develop an alternative site in the vicinity of Townsville as part of the Australia…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) assisted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) with a medical evacuation operation off the coast of Western Australia. Responding to a medical emergency, the ADF and AMSA successfully  transferred a sailor suffering a serious medical condition to…

  The Australian Government is aware of the recent SIGAR report. The Australian Government carefully manages our contribution to Afghan sustainment funding. Alongside Australia’s military commitment to the Resolute Support mission, Australia also contributes to the Afghan National Army (ANA)…

The Australian Government will extend blood testing, water connections and participation in the epidemiological study to newly defined management areas previously not part of the Investigation Area at Williamtown.The Department of Defence has been working to finalise its Human Health Risk…

Over the period 13–24 November 2017, 44 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel and a C-27J Spartan transport aircraft will participate in Exercise MHANUU 2017 in New Caledonia. MHANUU is hosted by the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia (FANC) and involves rehearsing regional…

Australian Defence Force personnel at home and abroad will pause on the 99th anniversary of the Armistice today, in memory of all those who have died in all wars. Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin attended the Remembrance Day National Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial…

Defence officials and representatives from seven Pacific nations attended the Women in Pacific Forces Seminar in Canberra this week. The seminar focused on the importance of female participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution, and integrating a gender perspective into capability…

Over the period 6–7 November 2017, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) frigates, HMA Ships Parramatta and Melbourne, joined Republic of Korea (ROK) destroyer, ROKS Sejeong The Great, and US destroyer, USS Chafee to participate in a multilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Jeju, ROK. The…

Today the Australian Army hosted its fourth consecutive annual Innovation Day at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.The theme for this year’s event was ‘Novel Weapons and Novel Effects’.This year’s event comprised 19 companies from Australia, the United States, Europe and Israel…

A PC-9 aircraft from Number 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth made an emergency landing today on a grass air strip outside Gin Gin, Western Australia. No one was injured and the aircrew was recovered by SAR helicopter. Air Force is investigating the incident.

Australian bravery and ingenuity on the battlefield will today be honoured as 100 horsemen and women recreate the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade as part of the centenary commemorations for the Battle of Beersheba in Israel. The Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917 was part of the…

Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will participate in Exercise HAEDOLI WALLABY, a bilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise, from 1–3 November 2017.The biennial exercise demonstrates a shared commitment by Australia and the ROK to regional security and security of the Korean peninsula.Royal…

Today the Australian Army marked the final phase of Plan BEERSHEBA at the Freedom of Entry Parade for 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, 7th Brigade in Brisbane.A procession of more than 65 armoured military vehicles and three new M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks rolled into the 7th Brigade at Enoggera…

Approximately 100 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will participate in the opening ceremony for the Rugby League World Cup 2017, to be held at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium tonight. The ceremony will be followed by the opening men’s game to be played between Australia and England. The…

Exercise Northern Shield 17 (NS17), the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) rapid deployment exercise into the Cape York region of North Queensland, has concluded.Conducted in the vicinity of the township of Weipa between 14 and 20 October, NS17 drew Army and Air Force personnel from across Australia…

The 2017 Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) has begun its departure from Darwin, bringing to an end the sixth rotation of US Marines through Northern Australia under the United States Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI). This year’s force rotation was the most advanced contingent to date,…

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) commenced Exercise NORTHERN SHIELD in Northern Queensland today to test its rapid deployment capability to remote areas of northern Australia to defend the country and its national interests. Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said NORTHERN…

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, the Secretary for National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and a delegation of senior government and military officials visited HMAS Adelaide today as Australia continues to work closely with the Government of the Philippines to counter the threat of terrorism in the…

In response to the reporting by ABC Australia’s Four Corners program on PFAS contamination at Defence bases. Defence is committed to being open and transparent about its management, environmental investigations and remediation efforts at PFAS affected Defence Bases and in communities. In keeping…

Deputy Secretary for Defence Estate and Infrastructure, Steve Grzeskowiak  ABC Four Corners, Linton Besser RAAF Williamtown, NSW Interview conducted 4 October 2017   LINTON BESSER: Steve, can I ask you to tell me your name and your title first? STEVE GRZESKOWIAK: So, Steve Grzeskowiak,…

Australian and Malaysia marked 25 years of Defence cooperation this week with a port visit and amphibious exercise as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 17.On her maiden South East Asia deployment, HMAS Adelaide and the guided-missile frigate HMAS Darwin received a warm reception from the Royal…

Australia’s Invictus Games team has arrived home thrilled with their personal results and the 51 medal haul from this year’s games. All of the hard work over the past months has paid off for Australia’s 43 wounded warriors whose grit and determination throughout the Invictus Games was…

I write to provide further information to your readers regarding the actions being undertaken by the Department of Defence (Defence) PFAS Investigation and Management Program at RAAF Base Tindal. Defence recognises the Katherine community’s concerns in relation to the Katherine town water…

Defence is holding a Force Design Conference on 10–11 October in Canberra, to gather innovative ideas from a range of specialists across Australia and the globe, to design the future of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).Force Design is leading the way to address the need for a unified Defence…

The achievements of over 550 wounded warriors were celebrated last night at the closing ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games. The ceremony celebrated the spirit of this year’s games and provided a fitting end to the international adaptive sports competition for wounded, injured and ill serving and…

The medal tally for the Australian team is beginning to mount at the half way point of 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. The combined ADF and RSL team, comprising 43 athletes, have so far collected 37 medals with only archery, swimming and wheelchair basketball and rugby left in the schedule. Co-…