Australia's Defence Challenges

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.
AUKUS and the nuclear non-proliferation regime
AUKUS and the nuclear non-proliferation regime
Whether Australia leases, buys or builds nuclear-fuelled submarines, it will be the first non-nuclear state to do so. The recent announcement of AUKUS – the Trilateral Agreement…
Australia is Making a Risky Bet on the U.S.
Commentary
Australia is Making a Risky Bet on the U.S.
Australia has thrust itself into a central role in America’s rivalry with China. Originally published in The New York Times.
When you’re in a hole, stop digging: Australia and the nuke sub deal
When you’re in a hole, stop digging: Australia and the nuke sub deal
There is an old saying that if you find yourself in a hole, the best course of action is to stop digging. If only Australia understood this wisdom. Abandoning the French submarine…