Stories from Canberra · Australia

The Australian Premier stated confidence that the nuclear submarine deal with the United States and United Kingdom will proceed.

Megan Quinn will become the first woman to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Defence in Canberra. She replaces Greg Moriarty, who is transitioning to a role involving the construction of SSN Orca submarines with the AE system. The appointment was described as a surprise following months of speculation regarding potential candidates. Quinn currently serves as the secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. While she lacks an extensive background in defense policy, her experience includes industry policy and international relations work. She previously co-authored a white paper regarding Australia's role in the Asian century over a decade ago. This agency will oversee large and expensive procurements that the department has previously struggled to deliver on time and within budget. The move is part of ongoing changes underway at the Department of Defence.

Janice Patterson told the Press Club that claiming Australian submarine programs are on track is a disservice to the public. She highlighted potential delays in submarine shipbuilding and the possible need for long-range strike capabilities. These capabilities would be necessary for the Australian Defence Force if a gap occurs before nuclear-powered submarines arrive. The warnings follow similar concerns raised by the United States regarding shipbuilding delays. Contingencies are required for potential capability gaps caused by delays in Collins class life of type extensions and potential slippage in US nuclear-propelled submarine deliveries. Alternative capabilities must be available to ensure regional security should conflict arise before Virginia class submarines are delivered.

Drug manufacturers have withdrawn from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) process for GLP1 medication Mounjaro, according to Medicines Australia. The manufacturer cited several reasons for the withdrawal, including the federal government's low price offer for the drug. The PBS advisory committee had previously recommended subsidizing Mounjaro for certain adults with type 2 diabetes. Medicines Australia CEO Liz Dussama stated that the listing process takes too long. Hundreds of thousands of Australians with diabetes may be affected by the decision. The withdrawal follows protracted negotiations with the federal government regarding pricing. Manufacturers specifically noted that the price the Australian government was willing to pay for Mounjaro was too low.

The Australian Peace and Security Forum has called for a public inquiry into AUKUS funding. Albanese noted overwhelming support from the British government, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister described the agreement as being "full steam ahead" per a quote from President Trump. The defense comes amid concerns that geopolitical circumstances have changed significantly over the pact's long timeframe, making it a high-risk proposition. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stated he supports a parliamentary inquiry into the AUKUS defense pact. He suggested Australia should halt overseas funding for the project while a review is conducted. Turnbull noted Australia has committed billions of dollars to the United Kingdom and the United States.

TikTok owner ByteDance will incur fees that can be reduced by establishing commercial deals with Australian news publishers. If no commercial agreement is reached, the company must pay a charge calculated as a proportion of its revenue in the country. These funds will be distributed back to the news media sector to support journalists. The Australian government is currently seeking feedback on the distribution methods for these funds. No new details provided in current feed. Communications Minister Annika Wells stated that tech giants are now incentivized to follow new rules regarding news funding. Under the new deal, companies will pay significantly less in funding if they choose to make deals with news organizations. The minister noted she has held discussions with stakeholders regarding these incentives.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is in Japan to secure fuel supplies. Wong is scheduled to travel to China and South Korea later this week for a series of meetings. These diplomatic efforts precede a visit to Australia by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takahichi next week.

Meta has criticized the Australian federal government for a proposal that would require tech giants to pay for news content on their platforms. The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, stated that news outlets post material voluntarily. Media companies argue Meta generates millions of dollars from content that is not shared with publishers. Communications Minister Annika Wells maintains that platforms must assist in funding news.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated he will work with whoever is confirmed by the US Senate as the next ambassador. Albanese noted the decision rests with the United States. The comment follows discussions regarding the appointment of David Bratt. The Prime Minister expressed no problem working with the individual once confirmed. The segment also mentioned calls for an audit regarding $300 billion in American funding for Ukraine.

Google has rejected a proposed Australian digital services tax scheme, stating the legislation ignores existing commercial agreements with the news industry. The company further claims the proposal misunderstands changes in the advertising market. The legislation would apply to platforms regardless of whether news content is featured on their services. Bruce Welpe from the University of Sydney's U.S. Study Center provided commentary on the matter. It remains uncertain if the levy will be passed due to potential pushback from US President Donald Trump. Trump has pledged to defend American tech platforms against what he describes as discriminatory taxation. Escalation could result in retaliatory trade measures on Australian exports.