Recruiting the Pacific

Australia’s defence force needs more new recruits, so widening the net to our Pacific allies and neighbours could solve several problems at once.

Helping Ukraine to help ourselves

To recall Margaret Thatcher’s choice turn of phrase to George H.W. Bush when confronting Saddam Hussein’s flagrant aggression against Kuwait in 1990, this is no time “to go wobbly” on Australia’s support for Ukraine.

Ukraine fights for the free world

Ukraine’s survival as an independent sovereign state is crucial for everyone’s security as a Russian victory would overturn the international rule of law which has helped protect the peace since the end of the Second World War.

A blow for the Australian space sector

In a brutal blow to Australia’s space sector, future economy, industrial base and international reputation, the Australian government has axed the National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO), doubling down on the recent cancelling of both the Australian spaceports program and funding for space access, which aimed at getting Australian space tech into the global space economy.

Parliamentary scrutiny and national defence

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is holding its first public hearing in its inquiry into the 2021–22 Defence report and it has many issues to discuss.

Facing real threats in real time

For the first time since the Soviet Union collapsed, the US is being challenged, which is why Australia must become a more active contributor to the stability we seek. However, the success of the Defence Review will hinge on implementation, and increases in spending when the economy is tight.

The public-private partnership of war

There are plenty of ongoing lessons from the Ukraine war, but one issue not receiving enough focus is the crucial role of the private sector.