Anthony Albanese will flag additional investment in Australia’s military capability during a major speech in Canberra on Wednesday, while characterising the next steps in the contentious Aukus nuclear-powered submarine pact as the “single biggest leap in our defence capability in our history”.
Amid persistent speculation the prime minister will travel to the US in March to unveil next steps in Aukus, Albanese will use a speech to the National Press Club as a scene setter for the government’s response to the landmark Defence Strategic Review, undertaken by the former defence force chief Angus Houston and the former defence minister Stephen Smith.
