Australia tracking Chinese navy flotilla, Marles says
Tom McIlroy
Defence minister Richard Marles has confirmed Australia is tracking a Chinese navy flotilla in the Philippines Sea, amid concerns it may be heading towards Australian waters.
The development comes months after a Chinese naval task group unexpectedly circumnavigated Australia’s coastline and raised concerns at the highest levels in Canberra.
Defence is currently tracking the trajectory of the latest navy group, which has the capability to reach Australia before the end of the year.
In February, a Chinese cruiser, frigate and supply ship made an unannounced journey towards Australia, including conducting live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. The exercise forced commercial aircraft to change their flight routes due to serious safety concerns.
Marles says it is too early to tell if the latest flotilla is headed towards Australia. Officials will continue to track its progress.
Defence monitors all air and sea traffic around Australian territory, including in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and in Asia.
Key events
Marles said he is speaking about the Chinese flotilla to assure Australians that the country was monitoring “our areas of interest”.
He said:
We’re not about to give a running commentary on the movements of all Chinese navy vessels, but in light of the report that was made on Thursday, we thought that it was important to make these statements and to make them in the proper context.
So that Australians can be assured that we are monitoring our areas of interest and we are monitoring the movements of the Chinese navy.
Marles announces ‘one of the biggest changes to defence’ that Australia has seen
Defence minister Richard Marles is speaking in Canberra about a major shake-up to the country’s defence bureaucracy. He is detailing the creation of a new defence delivery agency, an independent body, that will streamline defence procurement.
Marles:
This is one of the biggest changes to defence that we have seen. It will greatly change how defence operates. It will greatly improve the quality of the defence spend, and it will make sure that as we spend more money in the defence budget, we are doing so in a way which sees programs delivered on time and on budget.
Pat Conroy, the minister for the defence industry, describes the new agency as the biggest reform to defence organisation in Australia “in 50 years”.
It’s all about getting the equipment the brave men and women of the Australian Defence Force need into their hands sooner, while providing, as Richard said, better bang for buck for taxpayers.
Australia tracking Chinese navy flotilla, Marles says
Tom McIlroy
Defence minister Richard Marles has confirmed Australia is tracking a Chinese navy flotilla in the Philippines Sea, amid concerns it may be heading towards Australian waters.
The development comes months after a Chinese naval task group unexpectedly circumnavigated Australia’s coastline and raised concerns at the highest levels in Canberra.
Defence is currently tracking the trajectory of the latest navy group, which has the capability to reach Australia before the end of the year.
In February, a Chinese cruiser, frigate and supply ship made an unannounced journey towards Australia, including conducting live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. The exercise forced commercial aircraft to change their flight routes due to serious safety concerns.
Marles says it is too early to tell if the latest flotilla is headed towards Australia. Officials will continue to track its progress.
Defence monitors all air and sea traffic around Australian territory, including in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and in Asia.
SA police appeal for information after threatening emails sent for nearly a year
SA police have urged the community surrounding the Glenunga International High school in Adelaide to come forward with any information after an unknown person allegedly sent threatening emails targeting the school for nearly a year.
Officials released details of the messages, alleging that a person using the online alias “Brian Cole” had accessed a shared computer and used several key phrases and distinct images in the missives. Some of those images incorporated a spider with the school’s logo, while another included containers of maple syrup and honey alongside a handwritten note.
Deputy commissioner of police Linda Williams said the investigation had been dynamic and “technically complicated”, adding:
We are now taking the step of asking the school community and the public to assist us by sharing some details of the investigation. These details include information about the person making the threats, their computer use habits and some images and handwriting that may be recognisable to those who know the individual. …
Any information we receive may be a vital piece to this puzzle and help identify this person.
It’s time to play Whamageddon, the most difficult Christmas game in the world
Do you love Wham? Do you hate Wham? Can you avoid Wham’s 1984 classic Last Christmas at all costs?
Then Whamageddon is for you.
It’s the first day of December, and that means some of the challenge-obsessed are hoping to go the longest without hearing the holiday anthem at all, anywhere.
Take a look at some of the rules here, there’s still time before the dulcet tones of George Michael ensnare your ears.
If you’re prepared to lose from day 1, here you go:
Misinformation blamed as Australian vaccine rates slide
Misinformation, anti-science sentiment and vaccine hesitancy is being blamed for a “worrying” drop in Australia’s immunisation rates, AAP reports.
The Australian Medical Association is urging Australians to reverse the trend, warning lives are unnecessarily being put at risk and emergency departments are being stretched too thin.
Their latest report released on Monday shows vaccination rates across child, adolescent and adult programs, as well as seasonal flu vaccination, have all dropped.
AMA president Danielle McMullen says immunisation prevents between two and three million deaths a year but misinformation and anti-science sentiment are eroding public trust:
We are seeing increasing global conversations about vaccine hesitancy, and it is putting lives at risk. Unfortunately Australia is not immune, and it is deeply concerning to see declining rates here, especially among children.
Immunisation coverage rates for two-year-olds currently sits at about 90%, with coverage rates for one- and five-year-olds decreasing to 91.63%. The figures are below the government’s 95% aspirational target required to achieve herd immunity for highly infectious diseases.
Forty five bushfires are burning across NSW, with 11 not yet contained
Alongside the first day of summer, the NSW Rural Fire Service says there are currently 45 fires burning across the state, with 11 yet to be contained.
Around 600 firefighters are working to strengthen the containment lines around those blazes, but the agency said afternoon conditions are expected to deteriorate.
As of 12:00pm, Monday 1 December, there are 45 fires burning across NSW, with 11 yet to be contained. 600 firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines around these fires. Throughout the afternoon conditions are expected to deteriorate further. pic.twitter.com/RjjqjAg0fo
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 1, 2025
Large parts of the state have total fire bans enacted, including Sydney and the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter region and parts of north-western NSW.
Tom McIlroy
What could be part of that defence shake-up?
A looming announcement could include reorganisation of key agencies and the creation of a new structure, helping with Aukus and the government’s response to China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
On Friday, defence flagged property sales from an audit of holdings around the country. Defence currently owns nearly 3m hectares of land, including 70 major bases, 28 airfields, and more than 60 wharves.
Property sales could help provide land for new housing and fund new costs from within the department.
Marles has already flagged dwindling patience with major projects running overtime and over budget, pointing to about 30 projects running a combined 97 years late.
Separately, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has added a new division to handle Aukus arrangements. It will be headed by acting deputy secretary Kendra Morony.
Additional reporting by Sarah Basford Canales
Major shake-up to defence bureaucracy in the works
Tom McIlroy
The federal government is preparing to announce a major shake-up to the country’s defence bureaucracy, in a bid to stop major cost blowouts and streamline operations.
As the Trump administration pushes for Australia to spend as much as 3.5% of GDP on defence and Labor prepares to spend more than $360bn on the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement, in June the defence minister, Richard Marles, said the reform agenda would be broad.
He promised “everything is on the table” for changes, including in the $56bn defence department, the Australian Defence Force and other agencies.
The changes are expected to see existing agencies including the naval shipbuilding and sustainment group, the guided weapons and explosives ordinance group and the capability acquisition and sustainment group merged.
It is expected surplus defence land will be sold off, potentially including the Victoria Barracks site in Brisbane and Spectacle Island on Sydney Harbour.
– Additional reporting by Sarah Basford Canales
Truck driver jailed for Melbourne bus crash
A truck driver has been jailed for more than 12 years after crashing into a school bus and seriously injuring many students, AAP report.
Brett Michael Russell, 63, collided with the back of a bus carrying 32 people, including 27 Loreto College Ballarat students, in September 2022.
The students and teachers had been on their way to Melbourne airport to travel to the United States for a Nasa camp.
No one died in the crash but most of the passengers were taken to hospital and 10 of them suffered serious injuries including spinal fractures.
Russell in October pleaded guilty in the Victorian county court to 12 offences, including 10 counts of negligently causing serious injury.
He admitted he knew the brakes of his 62-tonne vehicle had been faulty before he got behind the wheel on September 21.
But his barrister argued Russell’s actions after the crash, including early admissions to police about the brakes and his guilty pleas, showed his “fundamental decency”.
In sentencing Russell to 12 years and nine months’ jail, Judge Michael O’Connell accepted the 63-year-old had been frank with investigators and was profoundly remorseful.
Andrew Messenger
Puberty blockers review handed to Queensland government but may not be made public
Queensland’s review of gender affirming care has been received by the state government.
Health minister Tim Nicholls announced the review in January, and banned prescribing of puberty blockers and hormone therapy in the state’s public hospitals. The ban was later found to be unlawful, but has been reimposed.
“The Vine report was received yesterday in accordance with its terms, and it’s a very lengthy report, and it will be considered by cabinet in due course,” Nicholls said on Monday.
“As I’ve said all along, that’s a matter that will be considered by cabinet, and once cabinet is considered, we’ll be making announcements”.
The government has not committed to releasing the report to the public. Nicholls said there had been no decision made either way. The minister refused to give a timeline for when it would make a decision about the report.
“I imagine it will be considered in fairly prompt time, but as I say it’s a big document. We only got it yesterday. It’ll take time to read through it. It’ll be time to understand what it recommends, and then time for consideration by cabinet,” he said.
Tory Shepherd
Hero diver set to join SA recovery effort
Thai cave hero Richard Harris is reportedly set to join a mission to recover the body of a man who died while cave diving in South Australia.
SA Police confirmed on Sunday a 65-year-old man from Victoria had drowned while diving Tank Cave, in the state’s south-east, and that a recovery operation with Water Operations Unit officers was under way.
“There are no reports of any other injuries and there are no safety concerns regarding the incident,” police said in a statement.
ABC reported today that Harris would join a crew of about six specialist cave divers to navigate the complex cave system. The Cave Divers Association of Australia describes Tank Cave like this:
The small surface lake leads to an extensive, maze-like system with over 7km of dive-able passage – this makes it one of the longest underwater caves in Australia.
You can read more about the underwater network near Mt Gambier and the unfolding ecological disaster it is facing here:
