Walking the walk

The new force structure plan sets a clear direction for Australia’s military that engages with the new world we are living in. It positions Australia to resist coercion and deter conflict but now the hard work of implementation must begin.

The army must be ready to fight more than fires

The ADF’s primary focus on defending the nation has not changed but the military can still lend a hand when the nation is burning.

Local industry content will secure defence funding support

Capability must always come first, but without the shared benefits of local involvement by universities, workers, SMEs and state and local government, defence spending risks losing community support.

Defence and disaster management

A greater role for the ADF in disaster response seems inevitable, but it will take significant investment and cross-agency cooperation to create a fit for purpose response force.

Caught between the sword and shield

For the last 50 years, Australian defence policy has wavered between the sword and shield, but as the strategic environment changes, we may have to choose between them once and for all.

Ourselves, alone

Many people believe that Australia would never need to defend itself unaided, however the reality is that we must depend on our own resources to ensure our own defence.

Time out for TikTok

The news that Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok is not approved for use on devices owned by Australia’s Department of Defence should come as no surprise.

Standing alone: why Australia can’t rely on America

The rising threat of China and the relative decline in American power and resolve mean that Australia must get serious about assuring its own defence in the future.

The new great game in the South Pacific

We don’t have the funds to out-build China’s navy, and so Australia needs to understand and more meaningfully engage with its South Pacific neighbours to win hearts and minds as well as secure defence cooperation.

Shoring up the north

The economic future of Australia’s north is firmly focused on exports, but it could also host more industrial capacity, not least to support the Defence industry.

Defending Australia in an age of strategic disruption

The threat to Australia is real and increasing, for the first time since the Second World War.
The ADF must increase its readiness for conflict, with more training, higher stocks of munitions and protected operational bases in the north.

Squaring the defence circle with tied hands

Defence’s worst kept secret is now officially public as Defence Minister Linda Reynolds revealed at last week’s Sea Power conference in Sydney that her Department is conducting a strategic review.