Twenty-seven people are feared dead after an boat packed with asylum seekers bound for Australia sank off the coast of Indonesia last week.
Australian Navy
Fixing Defence once and for all
Richard Farmer’s Chunky Bits, Item 15, yesterday, makes a good point in principle about the need to reconstruct the Department of Defence in detail, writes Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association.
Why is the ADF’s amphibious fleet worn out?
The real story about the burgeoning deficiencies in defence force amphibious vessel capabilities is that both sides of politics are being less than correct historically when trying to attribute blame for it, writes Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association.
Were Customs and the Navy ready for Christmas Island rescue?
Questions have been raised about the preparedness of Australian Navy and Customs personnel in responding to last Wednesday’s Christmas Island asylum-seeker boat wreck.
Political snippets: China to the fore for four
Dealing with China is becoming more difficult if we want to avoid upsetting our biggest ally, the United States of America.
Central Coast in a spin over rumours Obama will sink their battleship
The sinking of the HMAS Adelaide has the local Central Coast community in a spin: local media is in conflict, the State Government is pushing hard, Peter Garrett faces another difficult decision — and the US President might even show up.
Political snippets: The state of the union
A bad day for the navy, George Brandis and Julie Bishop do Tony Abbott no favour by jumping into the virginity debate and the Crikey Oscar contest starts to heat up.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Why Bernie Brookes will be sweating at today’s Melbourne Cup
Myer’s Bernie Brookes has a hard day ahead, University of Sydney splashes its cash about, is The Spearman Experiment about to be axed? And trouble on the high seas abord the HMAS Stuart.
Navy wishes it could turn back time over Myer stunt?
Sailors are not to be treated as sexual objects — except, it seems, when male sailors can be officially pimped out to promote Myer’s latest summer swimwear range.
Tips and rumours: Building stalls on the Education Revolution
Funding has taken a step backwards in the government’s “Education Revolution”, factional fun in the Queensland ALP left, is Isobel Redmond getting ambitious? and more from Crikey’s tipsters.
Political snippets: Should Rudd really root for MacKillop’s sainthood?
Richard Farmer reveals breakthroughs in hairy back research and asks if our lapsed Catholic Prime Minister — who now prays as an Anglican — is really the best person to lobby the cause of Mary MacKillop’s sainthood.
Future space travel: some serious issues to consider
Will the navy or the airforce be in charge of our future star fleets? John Birmingham explores.
Australia’s coastline defence: one submarine
Don’t tell Indonesia: the Australian Navy has just one of six Collins Craft subs left in service.
Ashmore explosion: a commentary time line
A timeline of events in the Ashmore explosion.
‘Prison hulk’ shame: the deadly price of protecting fish
Catching Indonesian fishermen in the exclusive economic zone might play well with urban audiences, but the realities of the operation are somewhat shocking, writes Lionel Elmore.
