How would you feel about mandatory military service?

Published

3 years ago

November 7, 2022

One former Australian prime minister thinks it’s a good idea and believes it could help bridge the gap between the government and citizens.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has unveiled a bold new plan for Australian school-levers.

He wants to see these citizens spend a “significant period of time” giving back to their country, through methods which may include military service.

Speaking to the Institute of Public Affairs, the former PM says this move could help improve the “two-way street” between the Australian Government and the general public.

Mandatory military service isn’t unheard of – in South Korea men between the ages of 18 to 35 are expected to serve.

Recently we even saw South Korean pop sensations BTS announce they will be stepping away from the limelight until 2025 so they can all serve their country.

Austria, Cambodia, Norway, Israel and Finland also have a similar schemes.

One can only assume such a mandatory conscription programme would be hard to sell down under.

Military service is just one part of Abbott’s plan – what else has he suggested?

The former PM says there’s a lot of talk about what the government has to do for the people and not much discussion of how the general public can give back.

His bold plan could see school-leavers above the age of 18 spending six to 12 months in service.

Aside from being involved in the military, it could also include working in aged-care homes, Indigenous communities, or the Australian Peace Corps in the South Pacific.

He says there’s all sorts of things which people could do, and it’s all about chipping in.

Will this plan ever go ahead? Probably not so there’s nothing to worry about at this stage.

Australia’s last incident of compulsory military training was back in 1972 during the Vietnam War.

And it’s important to note despite this suggestion, the former PM has not himself ever served in the country’s armed forces.

Iran live updates: Trump claims Khamenei dead as Iran insists he remains in command

Published

11 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

What’s happening in the Middle East?

President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.
Trump describes the moment as the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country”.
Iran insists its leader is “firmly commanding the field”.
Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes on Iran.
Impacts have been reported in Israel and across Gulf states as Iran launches retaliatory attacks.
The escalation has sparked fear and panic, with civilians fleeing major cities.

News

U.S. and Israel strike Iran as missiles hit Gulf bases and oil surges

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

Published

11 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

The United States and Israel have launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking leadership targets and more than 500 military sites in what President Trump has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Explosions have rocked Tehran, with civilians fleeing the capital as U.S. sea and air assets carry out sustained attacks. Washington says the mission is designed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and has even called on Iranians to rise up against the regime.

Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While many projectiles were intercepted, a U.S. base in Bahrain sustained damage.

Gulf states long seen as stable hubs for global business are now directly in the firing line, raising fears of a wider regional war.

Oil prices are climbing and tankers are diverting from the Strait of Hormuz as markets react to the escalating conflict. U.S. aircraft carriers, advanced fighter jets and missile destroyers remain in position, signalling more strikes could follow.

With global leaders scrambling diplomatically, the world is watching to see whether this spirals further or shifts back to negotiations.

News

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

Published

13 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

In Short:
– Iran’s Guard Corps advises ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
– Tankers have diverted to Qatar and UAE amidst concerns over safety and potential Iranian threats.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has instructed ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane linking to the Persian Gulf. About a hundred merchant vessels transit the strait daily, according to the U.S.Tensions have escalated recently as the U.S. increased military presence in the region and Iran issued threats. Western nations are concerned about Iran potentially laying sea mines to disrupt commercial traffic. Currently, no evidence suggests Iran has mined the strait.

Ships have been repeatedly warned against entering the strait, as stated by crews in the area and the European Union’s naval command, Aspides. On Saturday, dozens of tankers diverted, with some seeking refuge in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while others opted to steer clear of the region, as reported by oil brokers and shipowners.

Shipping Concerns

Tensions continue to impact shipping operations as carriers remain cautious in the Gulf region.

Tanker crews reported hearing explosions near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is vital for the country’s oil exports, as it handles 90% of its crude oil shipments.