Anthony Albanese

Australia's Defence ambition is at an all-time high, but its ability to deliver is under intense scrutiny. Chronic project delays and a deepening workforce crisis are creating a "delivery deficit" that threatens our national security objectives. This is the challenge that will define our industry for the next decade. While the news cycle focuses on GDP expenditure, an equally important question is flying below the radar - how effectively we deliver. With ANAO reports highlighting cumulative project delays stretching 37 years and cost blowouts of over $40 billion on a subset of projects, simply increasing the budget can't be the only answer. The National Defence Strategy calls for a shift from a "balanced force" to a "Focused Force." We believe this requires a parallel shift to a "Focused Workforce": a deep pool of specialised, security-cleared professionals who can execute complex programs. But this is a whole-of-ecosystem problem. So, we ask: Is our national debate too focused on GDP, or are deeper factors like workforce specialisation and project management reform the real keys to unlocking capability? This is our call to action. If you are a professional who thrives on solving complex national security challenges, we need to talk. If you want your experience to count and to make a tangible impact on the delivery of critical capability, you have a home at PappsPM. We are growing our team to meet the moment. Join us in closing the delivery deficit. #PappsPM #AUSDefence #FocusedWorkforce #ProjectManagement #DefenceIndustry #CASG #AUKUS #NationalSecurity #AdelaideJobs #CanberraJobs #NDS #Defence #CapabilityDelivery #CASG

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TechnoMile has appointed longtime federal technology journalist and broadcaster Tom Temin as strategic media adviser and announced the launch of a new interview series focused on issues shaping the government contracting and federal technology landscape. Read more - https://lnkd.in/gZXgGWy5 __ #GovConNews #TechnoMile

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“No excuse for poor planning.” Roland Naufal’s latest piece cuts through the noise — calling out the disconnect between policy optimism and on-the-ground reality as 'Support at Home' rolls out next week. Late documents, shifting guidance, and patchy systems don’t make for a smooth transition — especially for small and regional providers carrying the heaviest load. A timely and honest read for anyone in aged care right now. 👇 https://lnkd.in/geDqzi2Q #AgedCare #SupportAtHome #AgedCareReform #HomeCare #AgedCareSector

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A major funding opportunity is now available for businesses in Australia’s defence sector through the Export Stream. Grants from $15,000 up to $250,000 are available to support projects that strengthen export capability, improve manufacturing, and build supply chain capacity. This is a rolling program, meaning applications are accepted over time until funding is allocated. Eligible applicants include: 🔹 SMEs with fewer than 200 employees operating in Australia 🔹 Incorporated entities, companies limited by guarantee, or trustees of a trust 🔹 Businesses supplying or planning to supply into defence export markets 📍 Open to applicants across Australia 📅 Opened 18 June 2024 and runs until 30 June 2027 🔗 Program link: https://lnkd.in/gBWgKnaf #FundingOpportunities #DefenceIndustry #GrantsAustralia

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In case you missed it! We recently announced an investment of over $7.9M in three Greater Victoria-based defence projects through the Regional Defence Investment Initiative. These projects will advance AI and aerospace tech, sectors where B.C. is a recognized leader. Recipients include: ✅ ACIS Lab – $1.43M+ for the University of Victoria's Advanced Control and Intelligent Systems Lab to commercialize an AI-powered drone system for autonomous mapping of structures and terrain in high resolution. This technology will provide critical support in both civilian and defence applications, like environmental monitoring, disaster response, and surveillance. ✅ University of Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research (CfAR) – $4M for UVic’s CfAR to establish a satellite ground station and expand testing facilities for aerospace tech, providing shared infrastructure for businesses to test, validate, and deploy new technologies. ✅ Atreides – $2.48M+ for this City of Victoria BC innovator to commercialize an AI-powered software platform that improves how unmanned systems gather, share, and analyze data across air, land, and water. By investing in our researchers and innovators, we’re advancing cutting-edge defence technologies that will strengthen Canadian security and create long-term economic opportunities for B.C. See the full story via Victoria News: https://ow.ly/8HNK50Z1KuX

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Earlier this week, our Executive Director Defence and Industry, Ian Spencer, attended the Military Communications and Information Systems (MiLCIS) Conference in Canberra. The three-day conference brought together military, government organisations, academia and defence industries to contribute to the future direction of military communications and information systems. It was fantastic to connect with so many South Australian companies, including Solinnov, entX Limited, Codan Limited, CGI, APC Technology, Cambrian Defence & Space, and DEWC Services, each showcasing their cutting-edge products and capabilities. With a focus on AI, information systems, satellite communications, and cyber, MiLCIS 2025 offered valuable insights and networking opportunities for industry. Precision Technic Defence Australia #DefenceState #DefenceIndustry #MiLCIS2025

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The Auditor-General for New South Wales, Bola Oyetunji, has tabled in NSW Parliament a report titled ‘Upgrades to core policing technology’. This audit assessed whether the NSW Police Force efficiently and effectively planned and sourced key components to upgrade core policing technology systems. Read the report: https://bit.ly/421QLVG #AONSW #audit #PolicingTechnology #NSWPolice

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Defence West is strengthening opportunities for WA’s small and medium enterprises in the defence sector. Applications are now open to these new grant programs: ▶️ AUKUS SME Readiness Fund: https://lnkd.in/g3EUZRbH ▶️ Defence Ready Initiative: https://lnkd.in/guzGJDPz This is a valuable opportunity to build capacity and position your business for future growth. #WADefence #AUKUS #DefenceWest #WAIndustry #SMEs #RKCC #DefenceIndustry

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Theme Thursday: Littoral Operations 🌊 Optimising for littoral manoeuvre is a primary task for #AusArmy under the National Defence Strategy, but are we thinking about it broadly enough? This recent analysis from Australian Strategic Policy Institute argues that discussion of littoral manoeuvre has focused too heavily on platforms and geography, instead of a wider readiness system integrating sustainment, workforce, infrastructure, industry, and allied interoperability. This article makes us consider: is littoral manoeuvre primarily about platforms and connectors, or about the systems that allow them to operate persistently and with partners? Worth a read and discussion. 🧭 #TheCove #ArmyProfession #LittoralOperations #ADF #NationalDefenceStrategy https://lnkd.in/ge8sqEyq

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Why is there a "unity ticket" of support for the inclusion of ATO data in the #ConsumerDataRight? ➡️ Alongside more funding for #DigitalID and CDR, Jim Chalmers announced in Tuesday's 2026-27 Budget that government will look at extending CDR over to its own data. The first focus will be on enabling individuals and businesses to securely share data held by government agencies, specifically targeting ATO-held data for enhanced utility in financial services. ➡️ There is widespread agreement this will support the priority high-value CDR reset use cases of consumer lending - as well as small business accounting - hence the "unity ticket." 📰 Understand more of the background to this sectoral extension by reading our Open Finance ANZ blog: https://lnkd.in/gAgm3QQj #OpenBanking #OpenFinance #OpenData #FinTech

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More than 40 Australian defence industry SMEs have received $17 million in grants through the latest round of Defence Australia's Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) program. Australian Submarine Agency, Franmarine, Catten Industries Pty Ltd, DVR Engineering Pty Ltd, Rosebank Engineering, Levett Engineering Pty. Ltd. #AUKUS

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Ruth Clare’s post should make people uncomfortable. She is describing a structural gap that has existed for decades: veteran families are treated as support infrastructure for the serving member or veteran, but when that family is fractured by trauma, violence or separation, the people left carrying the consequences can be cut adrift. This isn't a minor service gap. It is a systems failure. Vigil Australia approaches this from a systems perspective. We have no commercial incentive, no government contract to protect, and no need to preserve comfortable myths about the veteran and repatriation system. In one week, we have connected Ruth’s work to a serious veteran NFP that actually supports warfighters and their families, to a research proposal that ignores families, and to an international community of learners that values action, not performance. We have also added her to Vigil Australia’s website. For the careful observer, that signals our trust. We have worked closely with many members of the Australian veteran support, research, and advocacy community. Inclusion on that site is deliberate. Omission is also deliberate. We also recognise the irony that publicly saying this may make some people more cautious about engaging with Ruth. That should say more about the system than it says about her. If Ruth Clare is not on the short list for anyone claiming to work seriously in veteran family support, domestic violence, or trauma-informed reform, that raises a basic question: who is doing quality control? The families affected by service deserve better than performative concern. They deserve a system that listens to the person who experienced it her entire life and has been saying this for years.

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The Northern Territory Government has established a new Defence Industry Council to strengthen the Territory’s position in Australia’s defence sector. Announced this week, the Council will report directly to the Chief Minister and provide high-level advice on priority defence projects and strategic investment opportunities. The eight-member Council brings together senior leaders from government and industry, including ICN NT Chief Executive Officer Daniel McCormick, who has been appointed as a member. Daniel said: “The council creates a clear forum to align government and industry, support local businesses to scale, and ensure Territory businesses are well positioned to secure long-term jobs and opportunities from defence investment.” Over the past decade, ICN NT has supported clients in facilitating more than $3 billion in defence-related projects across the Northern Territory. Through this work, ICN NT has developed a detailed understanding of Territory industrial capability, supply chain depth and the practical requirements of delivering major defence programs - insight that will contribute to the Council’s work. Members of the Defence Industry Council are: - Chief Executive Officer, Mr Daniel McCormick, Industry Capability Network NT - Chief Executive Officer, Ms Sallyann Innes, Master Builders NT - Chief Executive Officer, Mr Glen Hingley, Chamber of Commerce NT - Chair, Mr Steve Margetic, Darwin Major Business Group - Interim Committee President, Ms Georgia Davey, Australian Industry and Defence Network NT - General Manager, Mr Jimmy Kiploks, Defence NT - Territory Coordinator, Mr Stuart Knowles - Chief Executive Officer, Ms Hayley Richards, Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations. #ICNNT #DefenceNT #NTBusiness #LocalCapability #NorthernTerritory

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More than $17 million has been awarded to 44 Australian defence businesses under the latest round of the Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) program - bringing total program funding to date to over $51 million across Exports, Skilling, Security and Sovereign Industrial Priorities. Backed by a $170 million national investment, the program is strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial base by supporting businesses to expand exports, modernise manufacturing, deepen security capabilities and grow a skilled defence workforce. This round includes $2.9 million for eight Australian Submarine Agency projects, supporting the AUKUS nuclear‑powered submarine program and building long‑term sovereign capability. Western Australia also features strongly in this round, with two local recipients contributing to critical naval and infrastructure capabilities: 🔧Franmarine: awarded $1 million to commission a mobile underwater sustainment system to support vital submarine maintenance. 🔧Asset Reliability Inspections: awarded $22,920 to build workforce capability in high‑quality inspection services for critical defence infrastructure. More broadly, grants across the country are helping companies upgrade advanced manufacturing systems, invest in robotics and CNC technologies, uplift cyber and physical security, and deliver specialised training aligned with Defence priorities including submarines, aerospace, guided weapons, explosive ordnance and advanced technologies. The DIDG program offers year‑round applications and provides matched funding of up to 50% for eligible Australian defence suppliers. More information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/g3VtaSAR 📸 Franmarine

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📢 Introducing GovTrace Australia 2026 📢 We’re delighted to launch our new inaugural report analysing the Australian government market across federal, state and territory agencies 🎯 Get insights into: 📊 Government spend in CY2025 by jurisdiction, buying department and category 💰 Expiring contracts in CY2026 and where opportunities lie 💡 Industry breakdowns for technology, defence, healthcare, facilities management and infrastructure segments Built on intelligence from the Tendertrace platform, this report brings together complex procurement data into a format designed for sales, strategy and bid teams who need clarity, not spreadsheets. If you sell to government, this report will help you better understand the market landscape and prioritise the accounts that matter. See the link below 👇 #GovernmentProcurement #B2G #PublicSectorSales #Tendertrace

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There is a serious opportunity in the upcoming Budget to ensure the Australian Space Agency has sufficient funding to keep Australia safe, and drive one of the most productive and increasingly important sectors of the economy. The Australian Space Agency is surprisingly central to Australia’s prosperity, resilience, national security and defence. A recent review for Home Affairs found that space was essential to every single critical infrastructure sector: health, transport, food and grocery, communications, defence and more. The review also declared that the Space Agency was required to play a new key role to further safeguard Australia’s critical infrastructure. The Agency has also quietly built a perfect pipeline for the National Reconstruction Fund. The Agency awarded modest targeted grants to each of Gilmour Space Technologies and Myriota to develop and commercialise their rocket and IoT technologies. This enabled them to grow to secure $25m and $75m respectively from the NRF (with Gilmour securing a total investment of $217m to achieve a $1bn+ valuation, Australia’s first space unicorn). Modest grants to grow companies that deliver transformational investments for the NRF. The Space Agency is clearly very focused on the Future Made in Australia, supporting Australian manufacturing of satellites with Inovor Technologies to exponentially more efficient solar panels with Extraterrestrial Power, and Australia’s national mission, an Australian designed and made lunar “Roo-ver”. All investments in advanced manufacturing and future proof jobs across the country. The agency’s analysis shows it returns $7 for every $1 invested. It’s also driving a landmark Cooperation Agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), which has delivered a 3:1 return for Canada. All strategic, high-return investments. In this context, it’s very concerning that the Agency is facing a serious funding cliff in June, at exactly the moment it is becoming clear just how increasingly important their role is. Meanwhile, all of Australia’s peers (and rivals) focus and accelerate their investments in space. ESA recently increased its budget by 31 per cent. Japan launched a $6.7 billion Space Strategy Fund. Canada committed to a tenfold increase in its ESA contribution. The global space economy is projected to triple in size to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2035 — roughly the size of Australia’s entire economy today. The Australian Space Agency can deliver even more for Australia: growing a sovereign industry, not just regulating it. SIAA has been pushing for exactly that - our plan for a targeted strategic growth agenda attached. https://lnkd.in/gWDkqsa5 Darin Lovett Tori Murray Terry van Haren DSM Anntonette Dailey Tim Parsons Dianne Mong Michael Cratt Anna Moore FTSE Enrico Palermo

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MEDIA RELEASE | 𝗧𝗕𝗛 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮’𝘀 “𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲” 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲   As Australia’s strategic environment grows increasingly complex, TBH has released a new white paper proposing a practical pathway to strengthen the nation’s Defence industrial base. The paper titled “A Framework for Addressing The Missing Middle Challenge In Australia’s Defence Industrial Base” explores how collaborative and alliance contracting could help address the “missing middle” in Australia’s defence industry – the critical gap between small enterprises and large prime contractors.   Co-authored by Peter La Franchi, TBH’s National Defence Director, and Travis Harvey, TBH Director, the white paper outlines a framework for building sovereign mid-tier industrial capability through: • Collaborative contracting models and pilot projects in priority capability areas • Investment in project controls as the foundation for industry maturity • Systematic lessons-learned and continuous improvement mechanisms “The challenge lies not in choosing between traditional and collaborative approaches,” says La Franchi, “but in developing the capability and frameworks to deploy each appropriately – in service of a more balanced, capable, and sovereign Defence ecosystem.”   This white paper builds on TBH’s 60-year legacy of providing independent, data-driven advice across complex Defence and national programs.   TBH will be showcasing its Defence thought leadership and project delivery expertise at 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 this week.   The full white paper, “A Framework for Addressing The Missing Middle Challenge In Australia’s Defence Industrial Base”, is available for download here: https://lnkd.in/dBbdm3Pp   #TBH #projectdeliveryexperts #IndoPacific2025 #Defence

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'The army has implemented the National Defence Strategy’s decisions for ADF force structure. The government now needs to underwrite those decisions. That means ensuring that ADF force structure is supported by a defence industry that can feasibly, acceptably and suitably provide the necessary repair and sustainment for its combat equipment,' writes Chris McDougall.

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