Retiring the Taipan helicopters in 2025 was always a very bad idea β and now the decision never to return them to service is completely irrational. In making the announcement Defence Minister Richard Marles said this would cause a major capability gap β so why do it? The lack of interest in trying to understand the availability problem is stunning β and itβs an example of how poor decision-making has become when it relates to Defence. More than 500 of these helicopters are in service around the world. Italy has about 120 and has deployed them successfully to Afghanistan. At the other end of the scale, New Zealand has achieved the highest availability rate in the world for their 8 Taipans. Also we continue the imaginary conversation with Lloyd Austin about AUKUS and some of the idiotic features of the deal that Australia urgently needs to renegotiate.