Australian politician and lawyer, deputy prime minister since 2022, defence minister.
Since October, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pushed a rapid reorientation of Japan's postwar posture: her government has eased lethal-weapons export rules, the ruling party has opened formal talks on revising the pacifist constitution, and Tokyo has expanded defence ties and arms sales with partners including Australia and potential buyers such as the Philippines and Poland.
Australia has announced a historic increase in defense spending, driven by a planned AU$53 billion investment over the next decade. The government is shifting towards greater self-reliance and regional security, with a focus on modernizing its military capabilities amid rising global tensions. The move is part of a broader strategic update.
Indigenous protocols are being defended by leaders who label Welcome to Country as a long-standing cultural practice, while disruptions at Anzac Day dawn services in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are condemned by veterans and politicians. Opposition figures suggest the ceremony is overused, triggering debates about national identity. The events are shaping by-election discourse in NSW’s Farrer seat.
The US, UK and Australia are expanding the AUKUS pact with a signature project to field multi‑mission unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and related sensors. The pact aims to bolster submarine and undersea-cable security amid tensions with China and ongoing global cyber-physical threats. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
World defense chiefs at the Shangri-La Dialogue stress collective security amid rising regional strains. Tokyo pushes for transparency; Beijing underscores strategic rivalry and mutual concern. Leaders warn that fragmentation could disrupt stability, urging closer coalitions.
Australia and Canada have signed the first phase of a pact to share Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar technology, boosting early warning coverage from the Canada–US border into the Arctic. The move positions both nations as strategic partners within Five Eyes, with Australia’s 40-year system set to support Canada’s Arctic surveillance and security.