New drone radio production line boosts defence capabilities in South Australia

South Australia is set to enhance its role in national defence with a new drone radio communications production line, part of the DEF129 Uncrewed Aerial Systems project. This development follows the Albanese Government’s commitment to invest over $100 million in bolstering the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) drone capabilities, including the integration of Australian-made Sypaq Systems…

More coal and gas, less renewables: what a nuclear power plan for Australia would really mean

By John Quiggin, The University of Queensland Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan for nuclear power in Australia has provoked a great deal of discussion and analysis – most of it critical. Experts point out the Coalition’s long-awaited modelling involves both highly optimistic costings and a massively lower demand for electricity than expected in official projections. In…

Government response to driving advanced manufacturing in Australia low on commitment – by Sandy Plunkett

Australia’s manufacturing industry will have to continue to forge ahead alone as the government response remains light on details and lack clarity in helping the industry remain resilient. Here, Sandy Plunkett highlights the government’s glaring gaps and lack of commitment to Australia’s advanced manufacturing. The primary takeaway from the Federal government’s long-awaited response to last…

Australia is axing a $7bn military satellite project, leaving defence comms potentially vulnerable

By David Tuffley, Griffith University In a significant blow to Australia’s defence capabilities, the federal government is cancelling what would have been the nation’s largest-ever space project: a A$7 billion military satellite communications system. The decision was confirmed in a press statement today. It comes just 18 months after the Albanese government gave the green…

Australia has just been handed a map for getting to net zero. Here’s how it will guide us

By Anna Malos, Monash University; Josh Solomonsz, Climateworks Centre, and Matthew Benetti, Climateworks Centre Australia’s push for net-zero emissions received a welcome boost on Thursday, with the release of an official report showing how Australia can seek to cut domestic emissions across each sector of the economy. The Climate Change Authority prepared the report, which…