Coalition blockade against law, UN says

Bianca Hall, David Wroe THE United Nations and international law experts say a Coalition plan to block every Sri Lankan asylum seeker boat from reaching Australian waters, without first testing their passengers' refugee...

Danger does not compute in cyber war

David Wroe The number of serious cyber attacks investigated by Canberra's defence spy agency doubled last year, new figures show, as security experts warn of dangerous complacency in the Australian community...

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Abbott's first pitch evokes memories of a leader from the past

David Wroe Tony Abbott made two things clear in his response to Julia Gillard's surprise election announcement: one, he's all about positivity, and two, he means to be John Howard II.

Air force faces strike fighter gap

David Wroe Australia will almost certainly be forced to buy 24 new Super Hornet fighter planes for about $2 billion to plug a looming gap in its air defences caused by delays in the purchase of the cutting-edge...

Soldiers wounded in shootout

David Wroe Three Australian Special Forces soldiers have been wounded in a shootout with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, with two needing to be flown to Australia for treatment.

Three Diggers wounded in Uruzgan

David Wroe Three Australian special forces soldiers have been wounded in a shoot-out with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, with two needing to be flown to Australia for treatment.

Defence to raise view on Africa

David Wroe and Glenda Kwek Defence Force chief wants clearer information on the location of Australians in Africa.

Carr defends India nuclear record

David Wroe The Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, has defended India's nuclear non-proliferation record as Australian officials prepare to start talks on safeguards that will allow the export of uranium to the...

Terrorism fears trigger push to stop Islamist violence in Mali

David Wroe AUSTRALIA is considering providing military equipment and funding to speed up the deployment of African troops to Mali to quell an Islamist insurgency amid fears the west African nation could become...

Military aid set to help Mali

David Wroe Australia is considering providing military equipment and funding to speed up the deployment of African troops to Mali to quell an Islamist insurgency amid fears the west African nation could become...

Defence suspects may face removal

David Wroe The Defence Force may be asked to suspend or reassign alleged rapists and serious abusers in its ranks while their cases are fully investigated under the Gillard government's new military abuse...

Rape suspects may be suspended by ADF while allegations assessed

David Wroe THE Defence Force may be asked to suspend or reassign alleged rapists and serious abusers in its ranks while their cases can be fully investigated under the federal government's new military abuse...

Students bomb in exercise

David Wroe It was one thing for trainees at the elite military police bodyguard unit to miss two fake bombs hidden in a car's glove box during an exercise.

Overseas travel safe despite recent tragedies

David Wroe AUSTRALIANS are travelling overseas like never before - increasingly to more distant and exotic places.

Australians abroad safe despite recent fatalities

David Wroe Australians going overseas like never before, and statistics show they're as safe as ever.

Abbott adviser in gender firing line

David Wroe and Nicole Hasham Labor has accused Tony Abbott of trying to jack up his standing with female voters after his top adviser, Peta Credlin, gave an interview defending her boss against sexism claims and talking about...

Chinese efforts to suppress academic debate 'not unusual'

David Wroe, Bianca Hall A TOP foreign affairs expert says it is ''by no means unusual'' to hear of China trying to quash Australian academic debate to push its own national interests.

PM blasts Liberals on voluntary voting

David Wroe Prime Minister Julia Gillard has accused the Liberal Party of trying to make democracy ''the plaything of cashed-up interest groups'' after the Queensland government opened the door to the abolition...

Swan says US deal is just a first step

David Wroe Treasurer Wayne Swan has greeted an expected US deal to avoid the ''fiscal cliff'' with lukewarm praise, warning that a divided Washington needs to reach a more comprehensive debt agreement before...