Bushfire royal commission warns of catastrophic consequences of climate change

The commission says strong adaptation measures are necessary to respond to the impacts of climate change, and warming beyond the next 20 to 30 years is largely dependent on the trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Resilient supply chains can inoculate against vaccine nationalism

As governments focus on making supply chains more resilient, they would be wise to neither overstate the problem nor understate the private sector’s response. Critically, they must ensure a global, fair and functional vaccine supply chain.

Making supply chains great again

COVID-19 highlighted the interconnected nature of modern economies and how disruptions can spread rapidly to other countries through complex production systems.

Manufacturing a recovery

The pandemic has shown the need for Australia to revive its domestic manufacturing sector to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, but a push for strategic manufacturing should build on existing comparative advantage.

Building research capacity for a disaster-resilient Australia

Australia needs a networked consortium of teaching universities and regional research centres helping our emergency and disaster management services face the myriad dangers we face.

Mobilising Victoria’s emergency workforce

Victoria’s COVID-19 Omnibus Bill highlights the central challenge of mobilising and managing the right workforce needed during a public health emergency.

Government funding won’t stop manufacturing’s decline

The federal government sees the revival of Australian manufacturing as a matter of economic sovereignty, yet the annual national accounts highlight the enormity of the task it confronts.

Refreshing defence innovation

Unless Australia scales up its own DARPA-like investment vehicles and introduces well-endowed talent-retention schemes, or other policy initiatives unique to the Australian context, our defence innovation enterprise is headed for rocky times.

Supply chain cooperation comes to the fore

Reports are circulating of a trilateral exploration by Japan, India and Australia of a ‘Supply Chain Resilience Initiative’ to secure supply chains and reduce dependence on China.

Australia’s drug dependence: A multi-level response to supply-chain insecurity

Supply problems at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic sparked concerns about fragile pharmaceutical supply chains. Australia must consider how it can drive forward its domestic industry while also being a strong voice for regional cooperation.

A world in disorder

It would take 500 years to spend as much on preparedness as the world is currently losing due to COVID-19. The world cannot afford this cycle of panic and neglect.

Covid-19 shows the need to accelerate national policymaking

If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that Australia needs to link long-term planning with emergency and operational coordination.