Beefing up the Parliamentary Defence Committee

Australia’s Parliamentary defence committee should be given the power to pursue a national security strategy, given the increasing threat of China in the region and the relative military decline of the United States.

Australia should privatise visa processing

It would be wonderful if the government had the resources to purchase, maintain and upgrade its own visa processing systems and if every application could be assessed by a trained Home Affairs official, however neither of these appears possible.

It’s time to counter Russia’s militarisation of the Black Sea

If NATO continues to cede influence and authority in the Black Sea to Russia, Putin’s threat to Ukraine and neighbouring nations will only increase, threatening the international rules based order on which international security depends.

‘Forward defence in depth’ for Australia (II)

Australia must develop its military ability to ensure the security and stability of maritime Southeast Asia and the South Pacific and offer nations in the region an alternative to greater debt and dependency on Beijing.

Forward ‘defence in depth’ for Australia

China is determined to challenge the US across the Indo-Pacific and replace the established rules-based order with a Chinese-led system. Extending Australia’s defence capability would help counter this threat.

Once bitten, twice shy – Getting real about Australia’s security

Australia’s reliance on an over-stretched, under-resourced Royal Navy was exposed by Japan in the Second World War and we must not make the same mistake by over-relying on the USA as China steps up its regional ambitions and power.

Supercharging Australia’s digital trade through cyber security

Michelle Price, the CEO of AustCyber, underlined the importance and potential of cyber security during her keynote address at GAP’s Summit on Digital Trade at NSW Parliament House in Sydney.

Facing up to the bear in the Asia-Pacific

Russia continues to menace its former possessions in Europe and is increasingly looking to increase its influence in the Pacific, in alliance with China and in its own right, a growing threat which Australia must take seriously.

How research in the West boosts China’s military

Helping the Chinese military bring its scientific talent and knowledge up to world-class standards is not in Australia’s interests and the problem demands a response from the government and universities.

The limits of Australia’s defence diplomacy

Defence diplomacy has many important benefits, not least in helping other countries facing large-scale disasters. These endeavours enhance security and indirectly generate confidence, resilience and goodwill but expectations of their impacts need to remain modest and fixed on short- to medium-term security goals.

It’s time to step back from privacy paranoia

Alan Stevenson argues that individuals’ concern about privacy protection is hampering the benefits which more digital services, such as the new MyHealth record, can bring to the whole of society.

Hard times in Australian strategic thinking

A stronger defence force is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for achieving the sort of world that Australia want. Partnerships have also been central to our strategic success, and will remain so, but they must be partnerships we have chosen of our own free will.