Australia Defence Association @austdef Twitter profile

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Australia Defence Association

4 years

Neil James: "Noise around Afghanistan inquiry risks distracting from need to prevent future war crimes". #ausdef #auspol #CivilControlOfTheMilitary #WarCrimes #ADF via @aspi_org

Noise around Afghanistan inquiry risks distracting from need to prevent future war crimes | The...

To our national detriment, much of the public discussion on war crimes alleged to have been committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan is focusing on secondary, peripheral or irrelevant issues....

www.aspistrategist.org.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

1) Party-political advertising milking ADF support to civil agencies fighting bushfires is a clear breach of the (reciprocal) non-partisanship convention applying to both the ADF & Ministers/MPs. 2) Also cliche-ridden. 3) Its "defence force", not "Defence Force". #auspol #ausdef

Liberal Party

@LiberalAus

5 years

Our Defence Force is providing boots on the ground, planes in the sky and ships at sea, to support the bushfire fighting effort and recovery. Read more about our bushfire response:

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

"Absolutely obscene" somewhat of an over-reaction but the speed of publication & purpose of this ad, & the apparent ignoring of the resultant risk of unnecessarily dragging the ADF into party-political controversy, needs to be explained. Not a good look at best. #auspol #ausdef

Barrie Cassidy

@barriecassidy

5 years

That is absolutely obscene. They are advertising their responses to the fires - promoting themselves - at the height of the crisis. Their reputation is paramount apparently.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@SCMarshall130 We do not agree. The additional detail on ADF support to rural fire services had already been promulgated appropriately in departmental & ministerial media releases, & had been widely publicised in the media. Party ad was both unnecessary & improper.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Not 1st time this person has contravened non-partisanship convention applying to both serving & former ADF personnel. Posters/corflutes featuring a candidate in ADF uniform are improper bc they wrongly imply ADF backs the candidacy. Single photo in a wider life montage can be OK.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

The prosecution of Bernard Collaery is not in the public interest. Whether the National Security Information Act is necessary or not. #auspol

'I am unable to say much': anger simmers as Timor bugging hearing goes ahead in secret

High-powered witnesses have testified in the prosecution of Witness K’s lawyer, but what they said may never be known

www.theguardian.com

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Back when rescuing interpreters was rightly lauded not avoided. #ausdef #auspol

🌻 Kate Banville

@katebanville

3 years

ON THIS DAY: SASR Trooper Mark Donaldson exposed himself to enemy fire to protect injured Australian troops and rescue his Afghan interpreter under heavy enemy fire during a contact on September 2, 2008 – actions for which he would be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

Amid current pandemic tribulations, & myriad controversies, the meaning of at least one tradition is worth noting & preserving. Another royal bridal bouquet placed on the (original) Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Not tossed to anyone or aside.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@IanPitman2 Certainly looks that way.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Jim Molan is most senior fmr ADF officer in Parlt since 1958 & 1 of only 3 war veterans. Other 2 (Kelly, ALP & Hastie, Lib) in marginal seats. He brings an unusual breadth of strategic policy & diplomatic experience to parliamentary committee work. #auspol

Jim Molan goes rogue in NSW bid

Liberal senator and former army officer Jim Molan is touting his military record, which includes running the Iraq...

www.canberratimes.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

The ADA continues to note that the prosecution of Bernard Collaery & Witness-K is not in the public interest. #auspol #ausdef

XD LAW

@XDlawyers

3 years

East Timor parliament passes historic vote urging ‘international assistance’ to save Bernard Colleary. Full transcript to follow.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Vale MAJGEN Andrew James (Jim) Molan, AO, DSC 11 Apr 50-16 Jan 23 ADF 1968-08: infantryman, pilot, linguist, commander platoon-division, Army & Defence Attache Indonesia (incl East Timor crisis), Allied Deputy-COPS in Iraq Strategist Senator for NSW 2017-19, 2019-23(just) ADA mbr

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Julian Assange holds Australian citizenship. Other claims are matters of political belief. As with our intervention re David Hicks, the time Assange has spent in detention now exceeds a reasonable penalty for the crimes alleged, & he shld be released on humanitarian grounds.

David Shoebridge

@DavidShoebridge

2 years

The fact is Julian Assange is an Australian citizen, a journalist and a political prisoner. His family deserves answers and we all deserve a government that cares enough about the truth and decency to bring him home.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

@senatorbabet We are surprised that a senator in our parliament is apparently unaware of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957, & other laws & professional standards applying to the ADF. Happy to have someone explain them to you as part of our parliamentary briefing program.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@Scott_A_Moody Thank you for yr sleuthing.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Do we really need RAAF flypasts on Australia Day? Esp when Australia is not the type of country that has huge military parades down the main street of its capital on its national day, "revolution" anniversary or the dictator's birthday, etc. Asking for a friend. #ausdef #auspol

Royal Australian Air Force

@AusAirForce

5 years

We will fly past various locations on 26 Jan in support of #AustraliaDay activities. There will be fewer flypasts this year due to ongoing commitments to #YourADF #OpBushfireAssist . We appreciate your understanding. 🔗 #AusAirForce #PlaneSpotter

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

All public briefings on bushfires shld be fronted by the commanders & staff of agencies involved to provide facts & objective safety warnings. Also helps preclude rumour, panic, political grandstanding & politicisation of media questions. Premiers & Ministers shld shutup. #auspol

Ian R Smith

@ianrsmith65

5 years

Defence & emergency services personnel are simply brilliant. Clear, articulate, calm. No jingoism, never misleading, always informative & collaborative. “We are all in this together,” they reiterate. Again thanks @abcnews for exceptional coverage. #AustraliaBurning

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@ReallyPinkHouse No possessive apostrophe ever needed in a date sequence, ie. 1970s.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Australia’s refusal to protect Afghan interpreters from the Taliban is a catastrophic moral failure.

Australia’s refusal to protect Afghan interpreters from the Taliban is a catastrophic moral failure...

With no plan, no assurances and no assistance, Afghan interpreters have been left to fend for themselves

www.theguardian.com

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

These claims are not factually or conceptually correct. Our tanks are moved around Aust regularly. Most Asian countries have tanks. No ADF tanks have never served in Middle East or Europe & are most unlikely to ever do so. Armies in all continents (bar Antarctica) employ tanks.

Bruce Haigh

@bruce_haigh

3 years

#auspol Dutton has just spent $3b on heavy tanks, impossible to transport in AU and operate in the region. Their use is not for the defence of AU but for deployment with US forces in the ME and Europe. The US defence lobby and industry has him firmly in their grip.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@KleinRevd @LiberalAus defence force (not Defence Force).

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

An ethical failure by the portfolio Minister responsible, not the military commander scapegoated. Lessons for Australian govts (& the ADF) fm a US scandal. #ausdef #auspol #Covid19

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

@AndreaMcHutcho1 Perhaps you are now feeling how half the electorate felt for years when every week the panel was stacked 2:1 or 3:0 to the Left. And so many, now complaining, failed to notice or ignored the bias.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@FrBower You can be an Anglican priest or you can be a far-Left activist. But it is improper to use your Church title, position or resources to push political positions with no connection to Anglican theology, your priestly vows & your parish/diocesan duties & responsibilities.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

No professional soldier in possession of the facts cld logically criticise the value to the ADF, record, and integrity of specialist #ausdef sociologist, Dr Samantha Crompvoets. None of her critics belong in the ADF/any respectable veterans group. #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Ministers, MPs, senators, govt officials & ADF personnel shld all be subject to same quarantine period before taking up employment with anyone having a commercial relationship with their previous portfolio/departmental responsibilities. #ausdef #auspol

Christopher Pyne and the revolving door of MPs turned lobbyists

Andrew Robb, Martin Ferguson, Peter Reith and Stephen Conroy are among the former ministers who swiftly took jobs as lobbyists

www.theguardian.com

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

The pressure fm the PMO, & the intention behind it, were clearly breaches of both the caretaker convention applying to election periods, & the non-partisanship convention applying to any govts use of the ADF at any time. #ausdef #auspol

‘Disgraceful’: report reveals Morrison government pressured border force to promote election day...

Labor says action by former government ‘sabotaged’ protocols for political gain and was ‘without precedent’ in Australian history

www.theguardian.com

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

As we have maintained from the start, the ADA continues to note that the prosecutions of Bernard Collaery & Witness-K are not in the public interest. #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

@ASIOGovAu Welcome. Perhaps you can start by helping educate Australians, esp media copy editors, headline & clickbait writers & sloppy journalists generally, that ASIO officers are not "spies" & that you are not a "spy agency".

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Sound analysis by @KarenMMiddleton . Longstanding & necessary institutional non-partisanship of our defence force shld never be risked for party-political expediency. Even if/where "militarisation" of problem-solving stems fm APS incapacity. #auspol #ausdef

The militarisation of the public service

The government’s appointment of a three-star general to head the vaccine rollout is part of a larger trend that risks politicising the Defence Force.

www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

Special forces chief acknowledges war crimes, blames 'poor moral leadership' via @smh

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

No excuse for 2007 "joking" digger to have flown swastika flag on Afghanistan vehicle. Wrong morally, tactically counter-productive re camouflage, historically ignorant & unprofessional generally. Not excusable as digger black humour in adversity. #ausdef

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Key lessons fm the US when Special Forces culture goes haywire. 1) Don't over-use yr SF, esp for long periods. 2) Political interference in independent judicial processes & consequent military command decisions generally backfires. #ausdef #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

We honour Queen Elizabeth II's life of service & lifelong duty to Australia & all her realms. And to the institution of the Crown she embodied so well for its role in the separation of powers underling Westminster-system democracy. The Queen is dead. Long live the King. #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Ukraine must be helped & Aust rightly doing so. But notions we shld donate all our (too few) tanks, or tanks are obsolete/regionally unsuitable, are nonsense. No RAN sub has fired a warshot since 1915 but no-one says this is a reason for not having subs..

Why victory for Ukraine is essential for the West

The decision by US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to provide main battle tanks for Ukraine is a pivotal moment. The US is also sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles. It makes a...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

@pptsapper And you haven't included any of the numerous incidents in Australia. Esp for the long period when the majority of land forces in the SWPA theatre were Aussie. We also still remember how he constantly referred to Australian victories as "allied" whereas US ones were "American".

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

ADF doctrine has noted need to evacuate local interpreters from lost-wars since 1985 (incl so others can be recruited in future wars). Afghanistan veterans have hammered need for option since before we left Uruzgan. Why did little/no contingency planning occur? #ausdef #auspol

Insiders ABC

@InsidersABC

3 years

"They are now up against the veteran community...such a sizable base for the Coalition." WATCH: @shalailah on the Australian government's current humanitarian position on Afghanistan #Insiders #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

And the fallen, the wounded & every veteran defended all Australians equally. Regardless of their politic, religion, ethnicity, locality, etc. This is why no political or other contentious demonstration shld ever be held at a community war memorial. Esp key ones like the #Shrine .

Darren Chester MP

@DarrenChesterMP

3 years

Please show some respect for the fallen and their families, and just go home. There’s no possible justification for protestors gathering on this sacred site which honours all Australians who’ve served in war and peace. Lest we forget. Pix credit: The Age

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

Inexcusable omission fm Hayne Royal Commission into superannuation is Commonwealth Govt decision to exclude its own schemes. Governance & performance of ADF's DFRDB & MSBS schemes shld be examined, not least because they're riddled with inequities. #ausdef

Super firms called to hot seat

Australia’s biggest for-profit superannuation manager AMP and the country’s largest fund, AustralianSuper, have both been called up for the royal commission’s fifth round of hearings into misconduct...

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

Since 1985, based on military & ASIS lessons fm the Vietnam War, Aust Army doctrine has stressed the responsibility & necessity to evacuate local-language interpreters to ensure their safety & preserve ability to recruit such a local capability in future wars. #auspol #ausdef

Ahmad Shah Shahi احمد شاه شاهي

@AhmadShahShahi

6 years

Afghan left behind interpreters are in real dangers they could be arrested, kidnapped, and even beheaded at any moment by Taliban, because they served shoulder to shoulder with ADF as interpreter and cultural advisers.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Retired major general, Steve Day, has nominated for president of the RSL's Qld state branch. Another welcome example of much-needed RSL rejuvenation by current-generation veterans. And of the level of proven leadership, organisational & commercial experience, & nous, now needed.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

"Britain" was not a country. Nor did it "stand alone". In 1939-41 UK had the strategic-depth of its Commonwealth & Empire. Especially Canada, India & Australia. This had strategic risks as well, & they became realities from Dec 41, but UK was not "alone" in 1st two years of WW2.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

The ADA did not condemn Yassmin Abdel-Magied for her silly #AnzacDay 2017 comment. Our position remains that Anzac Day represents commemoration of the freedom, hard won, to peacefully express opinions. Even bad-taste/ideological ones by publicity-obsessed egoists. #auspol #ausdef

Defending Country

@honesthistory1

5 years

#honesthistory Yassmin-ed Had our own insight when we stood up for Yassmin 2 years ago - got really slammed by Reclaim Australia: and Gave us a slight taste of what she had to endure. What happened to her was a blot on Australia.

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@austdef

4 years

Surely time for the 25th amendment to be invoked. Even if chiefly to help restore confidence nationally & regain some dignity internationally. And to help deter various authoritarian rulers across the world fm any military adventurism or lesser exploitation of US vulnerability.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

On the mark. And while ADF personnel rightly must ignore & eschew political hurly-burly, its disgraceful that their work for all Australians, here & overseas, is so decried, belittled or even denied as happening by those pushing ideological barrows & other cranks #auspol #ausdef

Siobhan Heanue

@siobhanheanue

5 years

Regardless of any political firestorms, the men and women of the ADF consistently show remarkable skill and passion when looking after their fellow Australians. Sure, these may be PR photos, but these moments aren’t staged - they care and serve with honour.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

Disgraceful that the #AWM , of all institutions, doesn't identify who committed this war crime. Lest we forget isn't subject to modern diplomatic niceties/fads. AHS Centaur was sunk by an Imperial Japanese Nay submarine. We don't help modern Japan by obfuscating/denying this.

Aust War Memorial

@AWMemorial

1 year

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the 2/3rd Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur, which was attacked at 4am on 14 May 1943. Of the 332 people on board, including the civilian crew and medical personnel; only 64 survived. 📷 043235

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

@cathywilcox1 Stan Grant also has the useful skill of summarising complex issues in objective, unemotive & non-jargon language easily grasped by the uninvolved general public. His summary of our recent defence policy update, for example, was excellent.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

@irelandbattles Irish history changed this day, for generations & for the worse. Not until the 1980s & 1990s did Ireland catch up to being the country it would have been had Michael Collins lived to lead it.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

Accusation oddly assumes ADF & ABF personnel are somehow robots with no professionalism, morals, sense of duty, initiative or knowledge of the law. Illegal orders aren't lawful & wld not be followed, even (big) if any politician or staffer, on either side of #auspol , was to try.

Julian Burnside

@JulianBurnside

6 years

Is it possible that #Scomo and @PeterDutton_MP will make sure a couple of refugee boats WON’T be turned back, so they can blame Labor and the outrageous idea that people we have put in offshore detention and who need medical help will actually get it

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@austdef

6 years

A ridiculous claim & an insult to countries/peoples who suffer real coup d'etats. Aust's democratic constitutional system is still working. This is an intra-party political mess completely segregated fm, & unaffected by, military/police/security force/coercion. #auspol #ausdef

Jamie Cummins

@jc_cummins

6 years

Canberra is now being referred to as the "coup capital of the world"

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Worth noting RFS training extensively practises fire over-run drills & many crews wld have experience of executing them for real. RFS fire-tankers are also equipped with spraybars to reinforce refuge capacity of the vehicle, whereas most (urban-area) Fire & Rescue trucks are not.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

@andrewdavis2012 @Gerashchenko_en Three-fold. You oddly forget that the UK did not "stand alone". The strategic & global depth provided by the Commonwealth & Empire was a major factor in eventual victory. Esp from the dominions and India.

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@austdef

6 years

The courage of the captured army nurses as they were marched into the sea to be machine-gunned by Japanese soldiers testifies to the culture that nurtured them. And, sadly, to the culture that perpetrated such war crimes and some Japanese revisionists still denying they occurred.

Aust War Memorial

@AWMemorial

6 years

#OnThisDay in 1942 the SS Vyner Brooke, carrying 65 Australian nurses and other refugees from Singapore, was sunk by Japanese aircraft one day after leaving the island. One group of nurses were massacred by their Japanese captors. To read more:

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Jim Molan brings facts & logic into latest uninformed "questioning" re continued utility of main-battle tanks. No Aust submarine has fired a warshot torpedo since 1915 but no-one credible queries continued need for submarines (both crewed & drone). #ausdef

‘In a serious fight, I’d always take tanks’

It was disappointing to turn to my favourite journalist and good friend, Greg Sheridan, and see an attack on the recent announcement that Australia will purchase US tanks.

www.theaustralian.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

1982 Falklands liberation illustrated key importance of will in strategic affairs. At a Cold War juncture when much Western European will was faltering under Soviet subversion, the liberation demonstrated at least one NATO power still had the will to resist actual aggression.

Military History Now

@MilHistNow

5 years

Today in 1982, 11,000 Argentine troops surrender to the British army at Port Stanley. The 74-day war for the Falkland Islands is over.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

Michelle Grattan: "Banning death symbols is about the right military mindset, not political correctness". via @aspi_org

Banning death symbols is about the right military mindset, not political correctness | The Strate...

It didn’t take long for incoming Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, to find himself the centre of sharp controversy. Even before his feet are beneath his new...

www.aspistrategist.org.au

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@austdef

3 years

Disgraceful if predictable buck-passing. A man greatly responsible for #Afghanistan 's current woes tries to blame international community help. Ignoring all the golden opportunities wasted by the the divisive & corrupt ethnic kakistocracy he instituted & so ineptly led. #ausdef

Yalda Hakim

@SkyYaldaHakim

3 years

Former Afghan President @KarzaiH tells me the United States did not fight successfully or honestly in Afghanistan and would not be welcome back.

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@austdef

5 years

Not "die in captivity". Often murdered in Japanese captivity, soon after capture, or during detention conditions that breached international law. We must always remember when our diggers died from war crimes, not least by always noting the circumstances & the perpetrator.

Aust War Memorial

@AWMemorial

5 years

#OnThisDay in 1940 the decision to form the 8th Division was made. With a notional strength of approximately 20,000 the 8th would be destroyed as a fighting force by the end of February 1942. One in three would die in captivity. To read more:

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@austdef

6 years

Australia tipped to buy British naval frigates in $35 billion deal with old partner. #ausdef

Australia tipped to buy British naval frigates in $35 billion deal with old partner

The move would firm up the partnership with a key ally at a time of international political uncertainty.

www.smh.com.au

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@austdef

1 year

Author needs to study relevant hydrographic & oceanographic charts. RAAF maritime patrol aircraft have used civil runway at Cocos since WW2. Lengthening & strengthening it for visiting aircraft, incl for cyclone-relief, is not creating a "military base".

Ceding more territory to the US military? Will Cocos Islands be Australia’s Diego Garcia - Pearls...

Will the Labor government ignore the warnings of the late Richard Woolcott and make the Cocos Islands a militarised version of Diego Garcia?

johnmenadue.com

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@austdef

4 years

During the Great Depression, as well as pay cuts, our (tiny) Army's officer corps volunteered to take 10 weeks unpaid leave annually to prevent diggers being retrenched (as had occurred in the Public Service). They also stayed at work during the "leave". #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Countryside lagged behind Kabul as in most countries, But 1973 overthrow of evolving constitutional monarchy, & ensuing violent chaos of single-party, communist & Islamic republics, sabotaged Afghanistan's future. Bonn Conf decision to not reinstitute const monarchy a disaster.

Nazrana Yousufzai

@Nazranausufzai

2 years

For some, the history of Afghanistan starts from 1996. But here is a clip for you to see Afghanistan of 60,s and 70,s. Now sent back to stone-age.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

75yrs ago today the German resistance, sustained thru 11yrs of dictatorship by surviving slivers of pre-totalitarian civil society, made a last valiant attempt to topple nazism. After 70yrs, much bigger problems face toppling the PRC regime. Yet Taiwan & Hong Kong shine beacons.

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@austdef

2 years

@wmdglasgow Taiwan is most democratically-governed country in Asia-Pacific after Australia & NZ. More democratic in practice than Japan, Sth Korea or any ASEAN member.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

The ADA again notes the integrity & professionalism of Dr Samantha Crompvoets' studies into aberrant culture in parts of our Special Forces. Her treatment by federal govts of both political persuasions is a national disgrace. #auspol #ausdef

I exposed war crimes among the SAS. A few weeks ago, my car was repossessed

What I came up against was more than the horrific acts of a few rogue soldiers. It was the cult of brand “SAS”; the cult of the male warrior. I’d dared question their heroes.

www.smh.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

Our war dead are equal in death & are rightly honoured equally by the nation. Irrespective of religion, ethnicity, politics, etc. The Shrine (& indeed any war memoral) shld never be used for #auspol demonstrations. Whether oddly carrying Merchant Marine ensigns or not. #ausdef

Cassie Zervos

@cassiezervos

4 years

#BREAKING : Police have told the dozen of anti-maskers who gathered at the Shrine they have THREE minutes to leave. Otherwise arrests WILL be made @7NewsAustralia @7NewsMelbourne

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

@Ozzytourer @vanOnselenP Both ARA & ARES have been, & are, used extensively. But in southern Australia ARES units are generally closer to the disaster situation. Proximity & local knowledge count in disaster assistance. Plus reservists often have relevant specialist skills fm their civil occupations.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

As the ADA has had to point out periodically for decades, its society's job to fix society's actual or perceived ills. Its not the ADF's job. Nor the enduring actual purpose of national defence schemes involving national service.

We need to bring back national service, for our children's sake

It's a concept shunned by many, but here's how we could make it work.

www.canberratimes.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

Arbitrary cut of 450 to 129 re finally re-equipping Army with IFVs is serious mistake. As is similar cut to SPGs. Both, essentially political (not reasoned strategic), decisions will inevitably require reversing in future. Risk is this will be too late.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

@byronkaye @Nedsfeed has surely provided the most incoherently expressed, misspelled & factually incorrect tweet of the day? Just where does he think Australia is located? And why wld it use the Euro?

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Not just misinformation/information operations in war, grey-zone or peacetime. Nor conspiracy-theorists & other loons now being able to contact each other easily. Social media enables deception or subversion to target almost everyone immediately without being recognised by most.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Peak ignorance, peak false advertising, or both? While the schedule of updating Australia's submarine warfare capability is the biggest of several strategic risks involved, it is impossible to acquire any new submarines "immediately" (or even swiftly). #ausdef #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

Surely no program, in any portfolio, equals 4-decade bungling by both sides of #auspol re updating & integrating our Army's armoured vehicle fleet? Incl Coalition & ALP Ministers risking the lives of future diggers for careerist personal advantage. #ausdef

Multi-billion-dollar decision looms for Australia to replace Vietnam War-era army vehicles

A ferocious battle is playing out inside the corporate boardrooms of Germany and South Korea, as a decision looms on a five-year-long tendering process for one of the Australian Army's most lucrative...

www.abc.net.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

@politicsabc @AndrewBGreene If true as reported, some considerable #auspol confusion here. Banning death symbology is the opposite of "woke". Such measures are instead abt reinforcing military professionalism, discipline & intellectual (& moral) focus re ADF primary role of deterring & winning wars. #ausdef

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

@4mambo You have misinterpreted the circumstances. GG motorcade was due to participation in an annual formal ceremony, "Trooping the Colour" at RMC Duntroon. Otherwise GG travels without a motorcade. Such national occasions wld occur whether Aust was a republic or not. #ausdef #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

@PeterCronau Something quite odd here. AUKUS doesn't have "bases" (& isn't a "pact" either). RAAF's 33SQN operates KC-30 multi-role tanker transports not B-2 bombers. Australia is not a republic (as the "R" in the RAAF shows). USAF 33SQN is a flying training unit in Oklahoma.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

@HawthornRsl Or ... as Brereton Report noted abt the moral responsibilities of command, some honours & awards "could not in good conscience be retained". Australia & ADF need to address the fact that some soldiers committed war crimes. Those in denial about this must be dismissed fm the ADF.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 months

Officially-funded, but independently authored & edited, histories of Aust's wars have been Cabinet-approved national projects since 1917. Highly respected internationally, they help stop govts/agencies repeating mistakes. DFAT censorship must be stopped.

Dfat accused of attempting to censor official history of military operations in Timor-Leste

Exclusive: Bureaucratic process of ‘clearing’ book has dragged on for almost three years with historians arguing obstruction ‘amounts to censorship’

www.theguardian.com

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

The M113 entered Aust Army service in 1964. It wasn't capable of being deployed in our last 2 wars. Or in our next one, whether in our immediate/wider region or anywhere else. Despite the Anzac legend, our diggers will never be bulletproof. Is yr family still using a car fm 1964?

Defence Australia

@DefenceAust

2 years

#AusArmy soldiers prepare to mount the M113AS4 armoured personnel carrier after a section attack, as part of the Defence Force Recruiting Demonstration held on RAAF Base Edinburgh, Adelaide. 💪🪖 📸 Pte Johnny Huang #POTD #YourADF

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

7 years

@yodermaker @charliekirk11 Wounded not "injured". No accident, enemy did it deliberately.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

@ArneDaae At Long Tan we were helping Sth Vietnam fight off a Nth Vietnamese invasion. Much more complicated situation than yr simplistic assumption.

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28

Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

Like many public policy issues its not an either/or choice/problem. Article exemplifies the lazy thinking or ideological myopia whose knee-jerk resort is to divert defence capabilty investment elsewhere, rather than tackle both problems calmly & objectively. #auspol #ausdef

newmatilda

@newmatilda

5 years

Joint Strike Fighters, or fire-fighting water bombers? Which do you think Australia needs more right now? #ScottyFomMarketing #ScottyfromMarketing #AustraliaBurning #australiafire #AustralianBushfires #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

When "diplomacy" sadly triumphs over enduring truth. "... brutally murdered on Radji Beach 81 years ago" by the Imperial Japanese Army! When so many modern Japanese are in ignorance, or in denial, re Japanese war crimes across Asia in 1931-45 we must never forget. #ausdef #auspol

Penny Williams

@DubesAustralia

2 years

Today, we remember the nurses, military and civilians who were brutally murdered on Radji Beach 81 years ago. For many, the shores of Radji Beach remain hallowed ground. Lest we forget

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Sad example of politically-polarised ranting plaguing SM. Ignores geography, air safety & logistics (& HADR) principles & planning. A 6-yr old, large, well-equipped LHD (partly designed for HADR) supplementing & sustaining faster, but much constrained, help by FW-aircraft. #auspol

Politic@l Spinner

@lesstenny

3 years

Good news Tonga this rusty old slow boat has nearly arrived to Brisbane to pick up supplies... should arrive in around a week to your suffering islands... Seriously is this our freaking Navy. Embarrassing #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

@AngusTaylorMP @political_alert Yes you have. No it really won't.

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

Monash & Currie, of course, did not hold "independent commands" in law/fact. Nor did the significant efforts of their forces occur "independently" of wider allied planning, command & integrated support. Most aerial & logistic, & all their tank spt, for example, was British.

Paul Maddison

@PaulMaddison7

6 years

100 years ago the Canadian & Australian Corps under the independent commands of Generals Arthur Currie & John Monash crushed the enemy lines at Amiens, delivered victory for Britain, & began the 100 day offensive that led to the armistice & a seat at Versailles 🇨🇦🇦🇺

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Even if this photo was taken during a 2-week Parliamentary-ADF familiarisation program its use, without context during an #auspol election campaign, would constitute a serious breach of the (reciprocal) non-partisanship principle underlying civil-control-of-the-military. #ausdef

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Completely wasted interview. Finnish PM Sanna Marin is renowned for her apt, pithy & short statements summarising current geo-political issues. Esp re Russia's invasion of Ukraine & why Finland needed to join NATO. Pity more Aussie politicians can't demonstrate such a grasp.

abc730

@abc730

2 years

"I went dancing with my friends. I still don't think that was something terrible that I did." - Finland’s Prime Minister @MarinSanna . #abc730 @FergusonNews

1K

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

Fundamental flaw in #auspol claim "Qld troops belong in Qld" is that they're not Qld's troops. ADF defends all Aussies equally (& operates across Aust in emergencies the same way). That >half Army's combat forces are based in Qld is irrelevant. #ausdef

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

1 year

@johnmenadue Taiwan didn't become a Chinese province until 1887 & only continued as such, nominally, to 1895 when it was ceded to Japan. Previous mainland govts controlled parts of the island at times, but so did its indigenous people, the Dutch & Portuguese. It has never been part of the PRC

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

3 years

Also not widely understood that the ADF has very limited medical capacity to reinforce public health efforts. Its "spare" medical capability (maintained for military operations) mainly comes fm reservists. But, in a pandemic, they're already busy in their civilian jobs. #auspol

The Saturday Paper

@SatPaper

3 years

“Denial of the science of epidemiology is widespread, even among ‘experts’. We are told repeatedly that SARS-CoV-2 will become ‘endemic’. But it will never be endemic because it is an epidemic disease and always will be.” | Professor Raina MacIntyre

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

6 years

@BelindaJones68 Evidence that is readily verifiable helps, such as a genuine passport which proves nationality & identity. Not a fake passport, no documents or a claim to be "stateless" (& therefore conveniently undeportable even if an asylum claim is found to be baseless).

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23

Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Every few years someone floats national service as a supposed solution to our social problems without researching the history involved & its lessons. The ADF exists to defend Australia & our national interests, not to fix society's ills. #auspol #ausdef

Steve Price

@StevePriceMedia

2 years

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for a return of compulsory national service, suggesting school-leavers should spend up to 12 months giving back to their country. Could national service by law work in Australia? Would you like to see national service return?

1K

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

01 April Prizewinner

RAF_Luton

@RAF_Luton

5 years

Good luck to Flt Lt Jim "Jimmy" McJim who is now half way into his around the world hang glider world record attempt. Seen here about to connect to an in-flight USB charging point fitted to one of the #RAFLuton A400Ms #AvGeek

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

4 years

An excellent DFAT effort. And a reminder that international travel still entails risks & contingencies that travellers shld plan for, not ignore. Nor expect the Aust Govt must rescue them fm even the most obscure, isolated & risky foreign location. #auspol

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

National unity, esp in a diverse society, is a key pillar of our strategic security. Current date for our national day not helping maintain necessary unity. #AnzacDay not an alternative (separate & commemorative, not celebratory, purpose). #auspol #ausdef

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

5 years

If anyone misunderstands how our defence force has long helped civil agencies, & affected communities, in natural disasters then we shld check their TV, radio, mobile, ISP link & family memory bc they must all have been inoperable for decades. #auspol

Bushfire crisis demands a rethink on defence's role in national disasters

It is clear that disaster management in this nation is now a national security issue.

www.smh.com.au

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

@PeterCronau USAF aircraft (incl B52s) have been exercising in northern Australia since Hawke Govt in early 1980s. None of them carry nuclear weapons. Many countries across Asia, US allies & not, are strengthening defensive measures bc of PRC-regime sabre rattling, eg. 9-dash line "islands".

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

Our field artillery still had same 18-pdr until 2nd AIF started to be re-equipped with 25-pdr, in Egypt in 1940, before 1st battle (Bardia) in January 1941. And we had no tanks capable of modern combat until April 1942. Peacetime complacency re ADF equipt kills diggers. #ausdef

Military History Society of NSW

@MHS_NSW

2 years

'A' Sub-Section, 60th Battery Australian Field Artillery training at Albury Drill Hall, New South Wales, circa 1921. #Sydney #NSW #nswpol #history

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Australia Defence Association

@austdef

2 years

AUKUS nuclear submarine plan to be revealed by March 2023

Australia's future nuclear submarine plans are expected to be unveiled early next year, with the government also looking to detail its moves to fix a looming capability gap.

www.abc.net.au

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