The Latest Breaking News from Brendan OConnor

Peter Dutton’s department confirms defence minister has six Brereton oversight reports

But despite being in role for 13 months, Dutton has never spoken in parliament about reforms stemming from alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan

The Guardian - AU · May 9, 2022

Anthony Albanese open to cabinet reshuffle if Labor wins election

Opposition leader says all his frontbenchers are worthy of their roles but that caucus would have its say if the ALP defeats the Coalition on 21 May

The Guardian - AU · May 6, 2022

Labor denounces Peter Dutton’s ‘conspiracy theory’ that China wants Coalition to lose election

In election debate, Labor’s Brendan O’Connor says defence minister’s line of attack on China is for his own political purposes

The Guardian - AU · May 5, 2022

Australian opposition party vows to train Pacific armies

Australia’s opposition party has promised to establish a Pacific defense school to train neighboring armies in response to China’s potential military presence on the Solomon Islands

The Independent UK · Apr 26, 2022

‘We have not seen the preparation’: Labor attacks Coalition after Dutton’s declaration on war

Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles says Coalition ‘is a government which beats its chest’ but does not deliver

The Guardian - AU · Apr 25, 2022

'Prepare for war' to keep peace: Dutton

The defence minister says Australia must prepare for war to preserve peace, but Labor says the government needs to match its words with actions.

AAP · Apr 24, 2022

Australian government misses compensation deadline for victims of alleged war crimes

Brereton report recommended swift payments to victims as ‘the morally right thing to do’ instead of waiting for court rulings

The Guardian - AU · Apr 23, 2022

The Prime Minister's failure to establish a federal ICAC looks like a broken promise

The Prime Minister blamed a lack of "bipartisan support" for his government's failure to establish a federal anti-corruption body. But the evidence suggests it's a broken promise.

ABC News · Apr 21, 2022

Labor to rethink Coalition’s ‘bewildering’ decision to scrap armed drones if it wins election

Shadow defence minister Brendan O’Connor says cancellation of $1.3bn SkyGuardian program demands explanation

The Guardian - AU · Apr 19, 2022

Brendan O'Connor says defence spending under the Howard and Rudd-Gillard governments was similar, on average. Is that correct?

Shadow Defence Minister Brendan O'Connor says the Howard and Rudd-Gillard governments both spend 1.7 to 1.8 per cent of GDP on defence. RMIT ABC Fact Check investigates.

ABC News · Apr 19, 2022