Australia News

U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical minerals agreement aimed at countering China on Monday at a meeting marked by Trump's jab at Australia's envoy to the United States over past criticism.China loomed large at the first White House summit between Trump and Albanese, with the U.S. president also backing a strategic nuclear-powered submarine deal with Australia to bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.While Trump and Albanese greeted each other warmly, the U.S. president expressed ire about past criticism of him by Australia's U.S.

The Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities have successfully completed the latest Joint Cross Border Patrol in the Torres Strait.Running from September 22 to 27, officers visited communities in Daru, Sigabadaru and Ture Ture in PNG, and Saibai and Boigu Islands in the Torres Strait.The joint activity forms part of Australia and PNG's shared mission to protect the border from threats such as drugs and firearms trafficking…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape in the capital of the largest Pacific Island nation on Wednesday for defense talks after plans to sign a landmark mutual defense treaty stalled.The two leaders instead signed a defense communique.Marape told reporters it was in the two countries' mutual interest to work side by side on defense."I made a conscious choice that Australia remains our security partner of choice," he said, adding Papua New Guinea could not defend its land and ocean space alone…

The Philippines and Australia are working towards a new defence agreement to be signed next year, their defence ministers said on Friday, as both nations seek to step up military cooperation to deal with shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the enhanced defence cooperation pact will pave the way for more frequent joint military drills aimed at boosting combined operational capability and strengthening regional deterrence.Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles…

Japan clinched a landmark A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) deal on Tuesday to build warships for Australia, marking Tokyo's most consequential defence sale since ending a military export ban in 2014 as it steps away from postwar pacifism to counter China.Under the agreement, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T will supply the Royal Australian Navy with three, upgraded Mogami-class multi-role frigates built in Japan from 2029. Eight more frigates will be built in Australia.Designed to hunt submarines…

Nineteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in three separate cases at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.The matters arose from incidents where Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally on June 22, 2025 in the Cobourg Marine Park, Northern Territory and two Indonesian vessels fishing illegally on June 25, 2025 near Maningrida, Northern Territory.The crews were detained, and the Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the vessels.

Bardex, a leader in products and engineering services that make ports and shipyards safer, more efficient, and more profitable, has announced the opening of its office in Melbourne, Australia. Despite its extensive coastline, Australia historically has not prioritized developing its maritime infrastructure. However, the demand for ports and shipyards that support maritime sustainment, developing offshore wind, and decommissioning end-of-life oil and gas assets is growing and will…

A key U.S. warship arrived in Australia on Saturday ahead of joint war games and the first summit between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump, which is expected to be dominated by military issues.The America, the U.S. Navy's lead amphibious assault ship in the Indo-Pacific, entered Sydney Harbour as the first of three ships in a strike group carrying 2,500 sailors and marines, submarine-hunting helicopters and F-35B fighter jets.More than 30,000 personnel from 19 militaries have begun to arrive in Australia for Talisman Sabre, the largest Australian-U.S.

Australia plans to significantly boost surveillance of Pacific Islands territorial waters, spending A$477 million ($310.72 million) on aerial patrols for illegal fishing fleets, tender documents viewed by Reuters show, as China takes steps towards sending its coast guard to the region.Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on Friday, the Fiji Times newspaper reported, after the government of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last week approved a maritime security…

Australia’s unique enclosed self-discharging transhippers ensure a dust-free supply chain for the Onslow Iron project.Onslow in north Western Australia is a desert. It receives less than 10 inches of rain a year, and for much of the year temperatures reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s known for dust storms that can turn the town red.It’s iron ore country, but the lack of a deepwater port meant that the nearby resources were stranded until Mineral Resources (MinRes) came up with…

Australia offers a secure alternative supply for critical minerals vital to industry, its trade minister Don Farrell said on Thursday, in the face of rising concerns about Beijing's dominance of the sector.China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets crucial to sectors ranging from automakers to aerospace and defence was widely seen as Beijing using that dominance for leverage in its trade war with the Trump administration.While China is a top global producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S.

Seatrium delivered the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), BW Opal, to BW Offshore."We would like to express our appreciation to BW Offshore for entrusting Seatrium with their projects over the years," said Marlin Khiew, EVP, Energy (Americas), Seatrium. "The successful completion and delivery of BW Opal marks our 18th FPSO for BW Offshore."Seatrium’s scope of work included installation and integration works of topside modules, deck equipment and the turret mooring system, as well as completion and commissioning support for BW Offshore.

U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has expressed interest in acquiring the lease to Australia’s strategically vital Darwin Port, according to a senior executive at Landbridge, the Chinese company currently operating the port.Terry O’Connor, non-executive director for Landbridge in Australia, confirmed that a Cerberus executive recently met with Darwin Port CEO Peter Dummett to discuss a possible acquisition. However, he noted that Cerberus had not yet entered formal talks with Landbridge’s board.

MMA Offshore, a subsidiary of Cyan Renewables, has secured a multi-year contract from Chevron Australia for its platform supply vessel (PSV) MMA Plover.The vessel has been contracted to provide marine logistics support to Chevron’s Barrow Island and Wheatstone assets, located off the coast of Western Australia.The assets are producing natural gas for Western Australia and liquified natural gas (LNG) for the Asia Pacific region, and house one of the world’s largest Carbon Capture…

Ten Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in separate cases at Darwin Local Court on April 29 and 30, 2025. The first case arose from an incident on April 3, 2025, when Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Parry Harbor, Western Australia. Authorities seized 420 kg of sea cucumber, 300 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch, and fishing equipment including a 50-meter line with hooks and a trawling device.

Australian Border Force (ABF) has apprehended 14 foreign fishers and destroyed two foreign fishing vessels in two recent interceptions, as operations targeting illegal fishing continue across the country's northern waters.On 28 March 2025, the ABF, in partnership with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), detected and apprehended an Indonesian vessel allegedly found to be fishing illegally near Croker Island, Northern Territory.Nine fishers were identified on board. Officers boarded and inspected the vessel, identifying 750kg of salt used to preserve catch and a variety of fishing equipment. The interception occurred…