The ANI is pleased to announce that the 2025 winner of the Sam Bateman Book Prize is Dr Albert Palazzo with his book The Big Fix: Rebuilding Australia’s National Security, published by Melbourne University Press.
Dr Palazzo argues that after 120 years of defence planning centred on dependency, the contemporary strategic environment demands new thinking by political leaders and policy makers in order to ensure Australia’s future security. Rather than relying on a great power ally, he outlines the case for Australia to chart its own course, with a policy centred on the strategic defensive.
He argues that such a policy suits Australia’s geography and the current trajectory of military technology. Importantly, he also elevates climate changes as a key factor in Australia’s security; one that has not received the attention it deserves.
The Big Fix is a valuable contribution to the vital debate over Australia’s future security environment and consequent response. It is pleasing to see the number of books being entered into the Sam Bateman Book Prize and this year the competition was very tight. We look forward to a continuation of the high quality evident in 2025 as we start the selection process for 2026.
