Australia's Defence Challenges

Australia, China, AUKUS and the squandered advantage
Australia, China, AUKUS and the squandered advantage
Australia suffers from a deficit of expertise on China’s military capabilities, and it is distorting the national debate about the threat China poses to Australia. Under the…
AUKUS and intellectual property
AUKUS and intellectual property
While nuclear-powered submarines steal much of the media limelight, the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is about much…
The Australia-New Zealand alliance in a war with China
The Australia-New Zealand alliance in a war with China
A week before New Zealand declared a National State of Emergency for the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, Chris Hipkins made the pilgrimage to Canberra expected of…
Australia’s return to must-win wars
Australia’s return to must-win wars
It’s been a long time since Australia fought to win a war. Famed military historian David Horner has tied it down to a specific date: 1 October 1943. Horner writes that from…
If we went to war, our ammo would not last a week
Commentary
If we went to war, our ammo would not last a week
Originally published in The Australian.
Buying the wrong submarine
Buying the wrong submarine
Nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) are technically incredible. They are akin to the Australian Navy’s conventionally powered Collins Class submarines but much faster, much…
The merits of transactionalism
The merits of transactionalism
In July this year, a South Korean delegation visited Canberra to discuss potential arms sales. While various capabilities were mooted, from cannon to submarines, the visitors made…
Australian cyber: What’s “Redspice” for?
Australian cyber: What’s “Redspice” for?
Canberra is significantly boosting the cyber capabilities of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) – the government agency responsible for signals intelligence, support to…
The Indo-Pacific Operating System: How can America shore up the regional order?
Interactives
The Indo-Pacific Operating System: How can America shore up the regional order?
Five essays from experts from, or based in, Southeast Asia provide a sense of the region’s complexity and the nuance with which any effort to shore up – or rebuild – regional…
The Director’s Chair: Penny Wong on politics, China, and the job of Foreign Minister
Podcasts
The Director’s Chair: Penny Wong on politics, China, and the job of Foreign Minister
In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Senator Penny Wong, the Shadow Foreign Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.