AUKUS must-read Peter Briggs, fmr RAN, sub expert, 40yrs: "Every objective metric confirms that Pillar 1 cannot deliver its promised outcomes on schedule or within budget. Pausing this trajectory is not an admission of failure; it is an urgent strategic necessity" johnmenadue.com/post/2026/08...

AUKUS Infrastructure, part 6: It is not too late to change course

In the final part of a six-part series on AUKUS infrastructure, Peter Briggs argues that Pillar 1 cannot deliver on schedule or budget, and that Australia should pause its HEU pathway and assess prove...

johnmenadue.com

ASPI: For no good reason that anyone can see, much of the infrastructure spending for building Australian nuclear submarines is bypassing public accountability. www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-spendi...

AUKUS spending should be fully accountable at Osborne. It is at Henderson | The Strategist

For no good reason that anyone can see, much of the infrastructure spending for building Australian nuclear submarines is bypassing public accountability. Of the two main sites for AUKUS Pillar One, t...

aspistrategist.org.au

AUKUS reality check Six-part series (each part is short) examines the missing foundation of the enterprise: the physical shore-based infrastructure, land tenure, regulatory frameworks, and human capital required to build and sustain nuclear-powered subs in Australia johnmenadue.com/post/2026/07...

AUKUS infrastructure, part 1: The docking gap that could sink Pillar 1

The first in a six-part series examines the maintenance reality behind AUKUS Pillar 1, and the looming risk that Australia may receive Virginia-class submarines before it has certified infrastructure ...

johnmenadue.com

"We are deeply concerned by the airworthiness of the [MRH90 helicopter] and how it was brought into service, as well as the TopOwl system." Also, the Inspector-General of the ADF is expected to hand down its finding & recommendations soon, after a mammoth inquiry. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Families of men killed in Taipan army helicopter crash launch class action

The families of four defence personnel killed in an army helicopter crash in 2023 have launched a class action lawsuit.

abc.net.au

NACC “we confirm that [Defence] did refer this matter to the commission in compliance with their mandatory reporting obligations” Then NACC sent it back to Defence. Did same in Nov 23 with Defence/Thales,let Defence investigate itself Bypass paywall archive.md/LdY1I thewest.com.au/politics/def...

‘Failure’: Watchdog handballed corruption case to Defence

The West Australian can reveal Defence initially referred the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and sources claim the agency instead referred it back to the Department for possible pro...

thewest.com.au

Re: navy court martial corruption case NACC handed corruption case back to Defence Dept during investigation into officer over naval contracts thewest.com.au/politics/def...

‘Failure’: Watchdog handballed corruption case to Defence

The West Australian can reveal Defence initially referred the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission and sources claim the agency instead referred it back to the Department for possible pro...

thewest.com.au

Joint operation Qld Police, AFP, NACC A senior manager of a renewable energy technology company has been arrested and charged over allegedly attempting to bribe a Commonwealth public official during a business meeting in Camp Hill, Brisbane on July 9. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Chinese national arrested at airport after alleged $20,000 bribe

A Chinese national has been extradited to Queensland over an alleged attempt to bribe a public official with a bag of tea containing $20,000 in cash.

abc.net.au

One defence source confirmed to ABC that the former officer held a senior position within the military hierarchy Confirmed as star-ranked officer in RAN "Star ranked" refers to the senior ranks of navy, which includes vice-admirals, rear-admirals & commodores www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Defence minister confirms former senior naval officer faces court martial

A former senior naval officer will face charges in a military trial set down for up to six weeks from September 14 with the military court ordering their identity remain suppressed.

abc.net.au

"How are the public meant to have confidence in Defence's massive spending when Defence does not have confidence in public institutions and instead pushes corruption cases into closed military courts?" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Defence minister confirms former senior naval officer faces court martial

A former senior naval officer will face charges in a military trial set down for up to six weeks from September 14 with the military court ordering their identity remain suppressed.

abc.net.au

UPDATE ON THIS CASE Recently retired star-ranked officer faces 8 separate charges relating to work carried out at WA’s Henderson shipyard A trial period of up to 6 weeks set for the court martial, scheduled to begin at a Canberra defence facility in September thenightly.com.au/politics/ric...

Marles insists military trial ‘appropriate’ for navy case

The Defence Minister insists a military trial is the ‘appropriate’ way to prosecute a senior navy figure over charges involving lucrative contracts despite concerns from officials about a lack of tran...

thenightly.com.au

Interesting read What Israel is backing won't reduce US support but reorganize it: shifts $ frm foreign aid to arms deals It strips political/diplomatic oversight & moves into the opaque world of arms acquisition= limited oversight & minimal political accountability quincyinst.org/research/the...

The Disappearing Aid Check: The Future of US–Israel Defense Support

Israeli officials have said they want to phase out US military grant aid — a position that sounds like a step toward ending US military assistance to Israel. It is not.

quincyinst.org

Construction of 'Defence HQ' has begun, incl BAE Systems Australia's new corporate HQ BAE Systems is an anchor tenant in the newly named 11-storey building alongside Adelaide University & several Commonwealth & State defence agencies. Cosy setup. www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/de...

Defence HQ construction begins in South Australia - Australian Defence Magazine

Construction of Defence HQ, where BAE Systems Australia's new Australian corporate headquarters will be, has begun.

australiandefence.com.au

Re the recently retired senior naval officer facing secret military justice system over naval contracts dealings, rather than open civil court Info shared in screenshot below (on X) can be found at this link: defence.gov.au/about/govern...

Michelle Fahy@michellefahy.bsky.social · 2w ago

A secretive court martial process is underway in WA involving a recently retired senior officer Defence accused of trying to bury the details of probe into the senior naval figure's handling of lucrative defence contracts by keeping it in military justice system thenightly.com.au/politics/nav...

A secretive court martial process is underway in WA involving a recently retired senior officer Defence accused of trying to bury the details of probe into the senior naval figure's handling of lucrative defence contracts by keeping it in military justice system thenightly.com.au/politics/nav...

Buried at sea: Ranks close on Defence’s navy contract probe

Defence has been accused of trying to bury details of a probe into a senior naval figure, and their handling of lucrative defence contracts, by keeping the case within the military justice system.

thenightly.com.au

Me @bylinetimes.bsky.social on parallels between Australia & UK’s radicalising Right. At ARC they met to boost fossil fuel extraction & their nationalist projects where “race” is replaced by (identitarian) “faith” as the mark of belonging. lucyham29.substack.com/p/byline-tim... #Auspol #ukpolitics

So, I found out on Friday that my gig at the Guardian is coming to an end in late August. Needless to say I'm rather bummed by this development AND in need of a new job so if anyone's looking for a cartoonist HMU.

WA Premier Roger Cook to take on defence industry portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle following the departure of longstanding minister Paul Papalia. Part of the WA defence portfolio includes leading the state's responsibilities in the AUKUS agreement www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Premier Roger Cook takes over defence industries in cabinet reshuffle

WA Premier Roger Cook will take on the defence industries and tourism portfolios in a cabinet reshuffle, following the departure of longstanding minister Paul Papalia.

abc.net.au

#NACC took 1 year to decide grants corruption wasn’t corrupt Decision was appealed NACC took 2 years to review that Last week it concluded it did raise a corruption issue, but won't do a corruption investigation & will handle it thru prevention & education work 😑 michaelwest.com.au/nacc-admits-...

NACC admits to be wrong on rorts, but ignores them anyway - Michael West

The NACC has been a monumental failure to date, yet it continues to surprise in its failure of purpose, ignoring the rorts it admits happened.

michaelwest.com.au

Yeah... as long as you are willing to undergo a wee bit of 'education' about why you should not do it again - all good. I'm sure all future ScoMo's won't mind that one bit michaelwest.com.au/nacc-admits-...

NACC admits to be wrong on rorts, but ignores them anyway - Michael West

The NACC has been a monumental failure to date, yet it continues to surprise in its failure of purpose, ignoring the rorts it admits happened.

michaelwest.com.au

Robert Sleep@garphillian.bsky.social · 4w ago

So, just so long as you rob the one bank and never do it again we are all good?

...who then, is left to give a ff about the #Robodebt deaths, @Albo...?

Seems to be the way with the public service, the person resigns with a nice payout, and it all gets swept under the rug

What a great principle. "Committed a crime - didn't get caught at the time? You're not doing time for the crime!"

Having watched the last week at ICAC, I have formed the opinion that former University of Wollongong Chancellor Michael Still is in deep legal trouble, and may even eventually find himself facing corruption charges

To be fair to the NACC, giving up on an investigation is totally consistent with Paul Brereton’s tenure as Commissioner

Crikey@crikey.com.au · 4w ago

The inspector of the NACC has announced it will stop its investigation into complaints about former commissioner Paul Brereton. This and more in today's instalment of The Snoop: www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/08/n...

Oh yes, that's right! If she hadn't resigned Brereton would have had her sacked but because she'd resigned, all good. Job done. Off she went; like Brereton now. Except no-one's gonna publish a report about what Brereton did that warranted TWO more investigations, on top of first misconduct finding

Jommy Tee@jommytee.bsky.social · 4w ago

Exactly what happened in the NACC's Operation Kingscliff.

Getting the NACC of riding a bike

Strange at Estimates a few weeks back, when asked whether she had enough resources to handle NACC leadership probes the Inspector said: "I do." Also said she'd underspent her budget each year.

Nick Feik@nickfeik.bsky.social · 4w ago

I mean. Expenditure?! Many cases he presided over - that he should have recused himself from much, much earlier - are still live investigations (afaik). Ah but sorry, no, the watchdog lacks the resources….

The internal NACC emails revealed in Crikey's Snoop today relate to this investigative article on the NACC deputy commissioners that Nick, Liz and I wrote for The Point in April. It seems it ruffled feathers inside the NACC!! 👇 thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

Built to fail? NACC: the integrity body undermined from the start

The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s performance since its inception has been widely condemned. The leadership of Commissioner Paul Brereton, in particular, has drawn heavy criticism. Indeed, the...

thepoint.com.au

Crikey@crikey.com.au · 4w ago

Internal NACC emails have revealed what former Commissioner Paul Brereton really thinks about the negative press the agency receives... www.crikey.com.au/2026/07/07/n...

AFP confirms receipt of war crimes brief from Australian International Justice Centre in May Centre director, Ms Rawan Arraf: "It's a 65-page complaint w 43 annexures numbering hundreds of pages...includ[ing] video evidence, social media posts & witness testimony" www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

Australian in Israeli Defence Force committed war crimes, report alleges

The Australian Federal Police is considering a brief of evidence from the Australian Centre for International Justice, detailing alleged war crimes in Gaza by an Australian citizen who was in the Isra...

abc.net.au

This describes many more procurement processes than UOW's alone! 👇 'Dewar told KordaMentha colleagues that the chancellor had said the uni needed to run a procurement process "to avoid any probity concerns" but was conducting it in a way that made it "very likely" KordaMentha would secure the work'

ABC News Bot (unofficial)@abcnewsbot.bsky.social · last mo.

ICAC hears that John Dewar wanted his UOW appointment to benefit KordaMentha and his acknowledgement there could be a perception of a conflict of interest.