Defence Minister Richard Marles (Images: AAP/Private Media)
Defence Minister Richard Marles (Images: AAP/Private Media)

I don’t think that there is a systemic issue within Defence in relation to the way in which defence contracts are managed.

Defence Minister Richard Marles, June 30, 2024

The scandal around the Department of Defence’s $1.3 billion munitions factory contract with Thales gained an extra dimension late last week. French television reported the French arms company was raided by police in France, the Netherlands and Spain over two investigations: one into bribery concerning submarines and a naval base in Brazil; the other into “similar offences linked to the sale of military and civilian equipment abroad”.