War talk distorting defence priorities
By Neil Hart*
There’s no shortage of rhetoric about Australia’s changing strategic environment, and the key thread is that the possibility of major conflict in...
As in 1939, ADF woefully unprepared
By Hans J. Ohff and Jon Stanford*
When Prime Minister Scott Morrison compared Australia’s strategic situation to that in 1939, he was right in two respects....
Defence spending: promises and needs
Marcus Hellyer*
Once again, the Australian government has delivered exactly the funding it promised in the 2016 defence white paper and 2020 defence strategic update...
Threat demands higher defence spending
By Peter Jennings*
In last week’s expansionary budget, one area that felt a bit underdone was defence. Here, the government delivered what it promised 12...
Responding to ‘grey zone’ attacks
By Joseph V. Micallef*
In 1993, in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, James Woolsey, the newly appointed director of the Central...
Defence Budget hits $44.6 billion
By Marcus Hellyer*
The 2021–22 budget was a ‘no surprises’ one for Defence. The government set out its plan in the 2016 white paper, reaffirmed...
Baltic’s greater strategic importance
By Sebastian Bruns and Julian Pawlak*
“The Baltic Sea has grown to a never-seen strategic significance in the past years.” This is how Vice Admiral...
Carrier to protect Afghan withdrawal
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has decided to keep an aircraft carrier in the Middle East to help provide protection for American and coalition troops...
Rich pickings for military strategists
Now is the time for those who like to play war games or develop notional military strategies. There have seldom been so many rich...
Guarding ports and harbours
By Jack Rowley*
Worldwide “Ocean Governance” asks the important question: “How can navies and coast guards better coordinate with local governments and international agencies in countering...