Category: Pat Conroy

Australia Should Push for US Nuclear Submarines Over UK Ones, Opposition Leader Says

Australia should push to acquire the proven U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarine rather than a pioneer British model, according to opposition leader Peter Dutton. Dutton, previously the defence minister, made the comments just days before an expected announcement between U.S., UK, and Australian leaders on which submarine model will be acquired by the Australian Defence…


Bipartisan Group to Visit Pacific Nations

A bipartisan group of federal MPs will lead an Australian delegation to multiple Pacific island nations, the first such visit since the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy and their opposition counterparts Simon Birmingham and Michael McCormack will visit Vanuatu, Micronesia and Palau this week. The delegation will meet with Vanuatu…


Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Conrack’: Jon Voight’s Teach-in on Learning and Living

PG | 1h 46 min | Drama | 1974 Director Martin Ritt’s intimate film draws from “The Water is Wide,” Georgia-born Pat Conroy’s memoir about his experiences as a school teacher on the tiny island of Yamacraw, South Carolina. Descendants of poor black slaves and their families inhabit Yamacraw. The island school is a shack,…


Solomons PM Claims Election Delay a ‘One-Off’

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has assured Australian Pacific Minister Pat Conroy that his attempt to delay the country’s next election will be a “one-off.” The move comes after experts warned that Sogavare—who has cultivated deep ties with Beijing—could be emboldened to tighten control over the Pacific nation, a key goal of the Chinese…


‘It’s Happening’: Solomons PM Attempts to Delay Election Amid Beijing Influence

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has moved to delay elections citing the build-up to the Pacific Games in November 2023 as a reason. The move comes after South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal warned in March that Sogavare—who has cultivated deep ties with Beijing—could be emboldened to tighten control over the Pacific nation, a key…


Australia to Spend $1.3 Billion on 12 US Seahawk Helicopters

The Royal Australian Navy is set to phase out its troubled fleet of European-made MRH-90 Taipan helicopters in favour of U.S.-made Sikorsky Seahawks. On Oct. 8, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the sale of 12 Sikorsky MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters to replace the navy’s six Airbus-made MRM-90s for around $1.3 billion (US$985 million)….