Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Australia, Japan and the US holding a joint naval exercise, Prime Minister Albanese has spent $4m chartering RAAF jets, unions notifying Woodside of a possible strike at key Australian gas platforms, and the US to sell Australia missile systems in $975 million deal.
Nation
US to sell Australia missile systems in $975 million deal
The Biden administration announced plans to sell rocket systems to Australia in a deal valued at as much as $975 million, as the two countries seek an even closer alliance and to counter China’s expanded military reach in the Indo-Pacific region. The Brunswick News reported. Australia wants to buy 22 of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, made by Lockheed Martin Corp., along with 60 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and other munitions, the State Department said. Congress must approve the sale and contracts must still be negotiated.
Prime Minister Albanese has spent $4m chartering RAAF jets
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spent a staggering $4 million chartering RAAF jets around the world and across Australia since taking on the top job, with more than 370 hours spent in the air this year alone, NT News reported. Department of Defence documents released show the Albanese ministry has also seized the opportunity to use VIP flights to be around with more than $6 million spent so far this year. However, the public has no way of knowing just where Mr Albanese and his ministers have been travelling to with a “security review” undertaken by Defence keeping the destinations of the trips private.
Business
Unions notify Woodside of a possible strike at key Australian gas platforms
Unions at Woodside Energy Group’s North West Shelf offshore gas platforms said they plan to go on strike as early as September 2, which could eventually disrupt shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from top global exporter Australia, Reuters has reported. The strike threat escalates a long-running dispute between Woodside and workers over pay and conditions on its North West Shelf gas platforms, which feed Australia’s biggest LNG plant. Unions in Australia are required by law to give companies seven working days’ notice before any industrial action but can elect to call off any action before then.
Defence
Australia, Japan and the US to hold joint naval exercises
Australia, Japan and the US are to conduct a joint naval exercise in a show of support for the Philippines’ stand against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, the Taipei Times has reported. The announcement of the drills comes amid regional tensions after Manila said a China Coast Guard ship had fired a water cannon at Philippine supply boats in the waters off the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly archipelago earlier this month. The joint exercise aims to display the US’ and its allies’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and would feature aircraft takeoff and landing exercises from the decks of ships.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/08/20/2003805006
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