Join John Seymour and Hugh White in a one-hour discussion on Australia’s Naval Alliances at 1800hrs 7 April 2026 at the National Library of Australia.
For 125 years Australia’s security has been linked to a major power, an issue to which most Australians give little consideration. However, significant changes in the world order are occurring and the future decisions Australia makes about alliances have the potential to impact individual lives and will have both intended and unintended consequences.
Thanks to the National Library of Australia and Australian Naval Institute (podcast details below and here) you have several opportunities to learn more about this important issue.
In the 1920s and 1930s Australia entrusted its security to Britain’s Royal Navy. In 1941 that proved to be a big mistake. Are we making the same mistake now with America and AUKUS?
John Seymour’s new book Australia’s Naval Alliances: Lessons of History tells how Australia depended on the Royal Navy for its naval defence in the interwar period, in the face of ever-mounting evidence that Britain had neither the means nor the will to fulfil its promises.
John is joined by Professor Hugh White of the Australian National University to discuss Australia’s past experience of alliance failure, and what lessons we might draw for the big strategic questions that face us today.
An alternative if you cannot participate in this discussion ‘real time’ is to watch it on Youtube after the event. To be notified when this discussion is posted online simply visit the NLA Youtube page and select notify me.
