Katter rues unprecedented vitriol in political debate

Dan Harrison and David Wroe Bob Katter has clocked up nearly 40 years as a parliamentarian, but he can't remember the standard of political debate being as low as it was this year.

'Articulate morons': MPs call for better public debate

Dan Harrison and David Wroe BOB KATTER has clocked up nearly 40 years as a parliamentarian but he can't remember the standard of political debate being as low as it was in 2012.

Sex attack cadets still in military

David Wroe About 10 defence force members suspected of involvement in rapes of female cadets at the Australian Defence Force Academy in the 1990s are still serving in the military, the Chief of the Defence...

Navy captain fined for spousal fraud

David Wroe A high-ranking Navy officer found guilty of falsely claiming spousal allowances while having several love affairs has avoided jail and will instead be stripped of seniority and pay a $13,000 fine.

Troubled sub fleet could serve longer

David Wroe THE Collins Class submarine fleet is among the world's worst, a new assessment says, but a later retirement date for the troubled fleet is possible with improved upkeep.

Our sub fleet world's worst: report

David Wroe Australia's fleet of trouble-plagued Collins Class submarine is available for operations for barely half the time of comparable countries' navies, a long-awaited independent report has found.

Watchdog to fight cheap import dumping

David Wroe The Gillard government will set up an ''anti-dumping'' watchdog and double the number of investigators to tackle what is says is a tripling in suspected cases of foreign firms selling off goods below...

Officer in court over love affairs

David Wroe and Bianca Hall A military court heard allegations a top naval officer falsely claimed allowances.

Police to be given results of Defence inquiries on rapes

David Wroe An internal Defence Force investigation is poised to hand over material to police that could incriminate serving military members in cases of rape, either as alleged perpetrators or witnesses who...

David Wroe

Government apologises to ADF abuse victims

David Wroe Defence Minister Stephen Smith has made a parliamentary apology to victims of sexual and other abuse within the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

We should all be ashamed, Windsor tells MPs

David Wroe THE asylum seeker debate is laced with ''veiled racism'' and should leave all parliamentarians ashamed, key crossbencher Tony Windsor says.

Michelle Grattan, David Wroe

Tough talks on asylum seekers

Michelle Grattan and David Wroe Dissident Labor and Coalition MPs are set to strongly question their respective sides' toughening of asylum-seeker policy this week, as crossbencher Tony Windsor claimed the debate was laced with...

Slaying of Diggers premeditated

David Wroe Comrades of an Afghan soldier who shot and killed three Australian diggers in last year in an insider attack appear to have known in advance of their colleague’s intentions.

Abuse commission could probe defence claims

David Wroe Defence Minister Stephen Smith has flagged a broad new front in the child abuse royal commission, saying that alleged rapes of defence force cadets stretching back to the 50s could fall under the...

Carr praises Egypt for role in peace

David Wroe Foreign Minister Bob Carr has praised in glowing terms the role played by Islamist-led Egypt in helping broker the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, saying it bodes well for the future stability of...

Australia pulls back in Afghanistan, Timor

Ben Doherty, David Wroe Australian troops have withdrawn from all forward operating bases and patrol bases in Uruzgan, and handed over control of security in the province to Afghan forces.

Mental health campaign launched

David Wroe More than a decade of Australian involvement in overseas conflicts might have sparked a hidden epidemic of mental illness among members of the military, Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon has...

Secret epidemic could dog veterans: Snowdon

David Wroe More than a decade of Australian involvement in overseas conflicts might have sparked a hidden epidemic of mental illness among members of the military, Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon has...

Nation told to learn from 'mature' US policy on China

David Wroe AUSTRALIA has been ''spooked'' by its deepening strategic ties with the United States, prompting senior ministers to play down progress on the American military build-up on our shores, a leading...