Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes a high-level US delegation arriving in Australia to discuss the AUKUS deal, PM Albanese cautioned on embarking on a solidarity visit to Israel, the Reserve Bank of Australia raising rates to 12-year high, and Australia being offered evolved, up-armed hunter-class frigates.
Nation
High-level US delegation to arrive in Australia for AUKUS deal
A high-level US delegation will be in Australia this week to review the progress of the trilateral AUKUS defence technology partnership. The US is also sending representatives from the State Department, the White House’s National Security Council staff, and the Energy Department, which oversees the nuclear fuel to power submarines. AUKUS provides for the sale of US nuclear-powered submarines and the sharing of nuclear-propulsion technology with Australia, as well as joint development of high-tech weaponry. The three-way pact between Australia, the US and Britain is in response to China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific, Reuters has reported.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-send-high-level-delegation-australia-aukus-mission-2023-11-06/
Politics
PM Albanese cautioned on embarking on Israel trip
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Anthony Albanese not to make a solidarity visit to Israel, the West Australian reported. Mr Turnbull said a prime ministerial visit to the Middle East would serve no purpose, as calls grow for a ceasefire in the region. “What’s Australia going to do, other than provide sympathy and solidarity? Albanese has got to keep his eye on the ball, which is being prime minister of Australia and advancing the interests of the Australian people,” he said.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/turnbull-warns-pm-against-making-israel-visit-c-12465847
Economy
Reserve Bank of Australia raises rates to 12-year high
Australia’s central bank raised interest rates to a 12-year high, ending four months of steady policy, but left it open on whether even more tightening would be needed to bring inflation to heel, The Inquirer has reported. Wrapping up its November policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35 per cent, saying recent data suggested there was a risk inflation would remain higher for longer. Rates have now risen by 425 basis points since May last year, adding thousands of dollars to average mortgage repayments in easily the most aggressive cycle on record for the RBA.
Defence
Australia offered evolved, up-armed hunter-class frigates
BAE Systems Australia is offering an up-armed, evolved version of the Hunter class frigate to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a way of rapidly increasing the firepower of the surface fleet, Naval News reported. The proposal adds 64 additional VLS cells and eight more anti-ship missiles to the design. The concept uses the space allocated for the mission bay on the Hunter class to insert 64 Mk41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) and 16 Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) into the ship for a total of 96 VLS cells. The proposed modifications would have a “minimal” impact on cost and a “negligible” impact on schedule.
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