Archive for April 2026
Inside Canberra’s Quiet Diplomacy: How Tennis Courts, Cocktail Parties and Living Rooms Shaped a Nation
Byline: Michael Keating ⸻ The hidden architecture of Canberra’s power At first glance, Canberra in the 1950s looked like a sparse, unfinished capital — more paddock than power centre. Yet behind the official façades of government departments and embassies, a very different city was taking shape — one defined not by institutions alone, but by dense, informal…
Read MoreAustralia’s Defence Industry Surges — But Still a Small Slice of the Economy
Fresh data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics offers a revealing look at the scale—and limits—of Australia’s domestic defence industry, just as Canberra embarks on its most ambitious military build-up in decades. The latest Australian Defence Industry Account (experimental estimates) shows a sector growing rapidly in jobs, output and strategic importance—but still modest in its…
Read MoreAustralia’s defence reset: Marles stakes historic spending on a more dangerous world
A strategic pivot under pressure At a consequential address to the National Press Club of Australia, Acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles delivered a stark message: Australia is entering its most dangerous strategic environment since World War II—and the government is responding with the largest peacetime defence build-up in the nation’s history. The launch of the 2026…
Read MoreLabour market holds steady — but pressure is building beneath the surface
Australia’s labour market has held its ground, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirming the unemployment rate remained at 4.3 per cent in March — unchanged from February and still within what economists consider a “tight” range. At face value, the numbers suggest resilience. Employment rose modestly over the month, with gains concentrated in full-time roles, reinforcing the narrative…
Read MoreHistoric shake-up at the top of the ADF as Australia confronts a more uncertain world
Australia’s defence leadership is undergoing a significant and historic transition, with a new generation of military chiefs stepping into command at a time of rising global instability and strategic pressure. In an announcement from Canberra, the Prime Minister confirmed sweeping changes across the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including the appointment of Vice Admiral Mark Hammond…
Read MoreMatt Canavan at the Press Club: A Confident Pitch for Australia’s Future
At the National Press Club of Australia this week, Matt Canavan delivered his first major address as Leader of The Nationals — a speech that combined conviction, clarity, and a clear intent to reshape the national conversation. Speaking to a packed room of policymakers, media, and stakeholders, Canavan struck an optimistic tone, framing Australia as a nation with enormous untapped potential…
Read MoreFuel Pressure Tests Australia’s Resilience as Albanese Moves to Secure Supply
Australia’s fuel system has been stress-tested over Easter — and while the worst appears to have been avoided, the episode has exposed just how vulnerable the nation remains to global shocks. Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that fuel shortages are easing, though not fully resolved, with diesel supply still under pressure. The…
Read MoreAlbanese Sidesteps Trump — and Shrinks from a Bigger Parliament Debate
At first glance, Anthony Albanese’s National Press Club address was about economic resilience — fuel security, supply chains, and a government determined to “keep Australia moving.” But the most revealing moments came not from the prepared speech, but under questioning: when the Prime Minister was pressed on Donald Trump — and on whether Australia’s Parliament…
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