cam, 1166 words, 2 comments, High Court, Terrorism, Defence, Control Orders, Thomas vs Mowbray

The Australasian Legal Information Institute has the decision for the Thomas vs Mowbray up on its website. This is over control orders and whether they are constitutional under Defence Powers. The other arguments against the control order is that it gives a non-judicial power to a court and it is not supported under the heads of power in the Constitution. (more)

cam, 310 words, 0 comments, Andrew Davies, ASPI, RAAF, Defence

The US Deputy Defence Secretary has written Brendan Nelson to say that the F22 will not be offered as an export to Australia. The F22 is one of two fifth generation platforms, the JSF is the other, and more than a few in politics and policy have argued for the F22 instead of the JSF to be the RAAF's next platform. (more)

cam, 1357 words, 0 comments, Mark Bishop, Defence

Since the links to the Hansard's bust almost immediately, and I referenced the speech in, Naval Building in Australia : this is Mark Bishop's speech reproduced in full. (more)

cam, 769 words, 0 comments, Defence, Naval Building, Mark Bishop

Australia has a history of naval shipbuilding, which, as a heavy industry began with WWI and Cockatoo Island. Between the wars Cockatoo Island produced HMAS Albatros. After the war ship-building expanded to Williamstown with the Daring-class though John Jeremy argues that the main contribution of Australian shipyards was "in ship repair and conversion and the construction of small ships." (more)

cam, 208 words, 1 comment, Defence, Kokoda Foundation, ASPI

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute [ASPI] has had a bit of a monopoly on defence policy over the last few years. It has been especially influential, the "Our Failing Neighbour" report leading directly to the Australian operation in the Solomons. Another defence think-tank has popped up and started appearing in the mass-media with a jingoistic name - the Kokoda Foundation . (more)

cam, 260 words, 4 comments, ADF, Iraq, Navy, Defence

The Australian has a pre-release discussion of it. No mention of the report, or its impending release from the defence website media room . (more)

cam, 3109 words, 2 comments, ADF, Defence White Paper, Terror, Defence

Sea of Sands covers Senator Hill's comment that a new Defence White Paper was not necessary. The Defence White Paper from 2000 covers Australian strategic doctrine and serves as the basis for capability, readiness, procurement and deployment. The previous white paper was before the terrorist attacks on America in 2001. Since then the United States has chosen to pursue terrorism as a military objective - and Australia has joined them in this. We now have several years experience in combating terrorism from a military point of view, what can be learnt from it, and should we reassess our doctrine in a 2005 Defence White Paper? (more)

cam, 968 words, 0 comments, Air5077, Project Wedgetail, RAAF, Defence

Project Air5077 will be the Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Airborne Early Warning and Control component (AEW&C) of Australia's force projection. The Wedgetail is based on the 737-700 IGW platform with Boeing as the prime contractor in the project. The radar system is from Northrop-Grumman, while locally, BAE System Australia, Boeing Australia and Qantas Defence Systems are also involved.

The contracts and projects Boeing has been involved in with the USAF have come under congressional and media scrutiny recently. This is due to the inappropriate manner in which several of this projects were sought, priced and inflated. This has not been the case with the Wedgetail project. The project is under-budget, on-time and by the RAAF's determination, an extremely well managed project. The Wedgetail has also spawned interest from other nations that are seeking regional power projection; including Turkey, Korea and Italy. (more)