Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is currently in the news due to several significant events. Recent reports indicate ADF personnel were present on a US submarine involved in the sinking of an Iranian warship, although the Prime Minister denies direct Australian involvement in attacks against Iran. Furthermore, Australia has lodged a complaint with China regarding an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter between Australian and Chinese military helicopters in the Yellow Sea. The ADF is also expanding its space operations, with new specialist training centers and recruitment drives focused on space command, reflecting the ADF's adaptation to a challenging strategic environment. Domestically, the government's plan to sell off over 60 historic defence properties to generate approximately $3 billion for defence is facing criticism from veterans and opposition parties, who predict significant delays and costs.