Australian security strengthened as part of Exercise Austral Shield

The Australian Defence Force’s ability to respond to domestic security threats will be put to the test as part of Exercise Austral Shield. Held in Western Australia and North Queensland from 3 to 19 July 2026, the exercise will see Defence demonstrate its ability to protect Australians, critical infrastructure and national resources, as well as its readiness to respond to domestic security challenges. Exercise Austral Shield aims to strengthen cooperation and preparedness across government, ensuring agencies can operate seamlessly in high-pressure environments. It will see more than 1500 personnel from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Space Command and Cyber Command participate alongside representatives from state and federal agencies. Training alongside civil authorities enhances shared understanding, improves coordination, and builds confidence in Australia’s collective domestic response arrangements. Director-General Joint Collective Training, Commodore Phillipa Hay said training together enabled agencies to be more prepared to respond when called upon to protect the Australian community. “Exercises like Austral Shield ensure the ADF remains ready, agile and integrated, capable of responding to a wide range of contingencies in Australia,” Commodore Hay said. “As the 2026 National Defence Strategy highlights, Australia faces a more unpredictable security environment, requiring greater preparedness and resilience. Testing our ability to integrate alongside state and federal agencies will enable us to achieve a whole-of-government approach to crisis response and preparedness, including the protection of critical infrastructure.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]