Special forces’ approach to technological change offers a model for others

New procurement principles and practice spearheaded by Australia’s special forces can reduce project risks across the defence budget while embracing more rapid technological change.

Which side are we on?

The protests in Hong Kong started over CEO Carrie Lam’s extradition bill and have turned into a defining issue for the trajectory of China as a state and a society, and for the Chinese state’s relationships internationally.

National security should turn to the cloud

A move now to secure cloud infrastructure is required if Australia’s national security agencies are to maintain and improve their capability.

Three realities for the Pacific family and Australia’s step-up agenda

The new Morrison government, and Alex Hawke in particular, need to show they are listening to and acting on this voice from the Pacific to have credibility in building on the Pacific step-up.

Putin and Xi plot an oppressive digital future

China and Russia are very different nations in many ways, but both are ruled by authoritarian regimes determined to assert themselves on the international stage while crushing political dissent at home and both use the internet to achieve their goals.

Standing up to bullies in the South China Sea

Public diplomacy around Australia’s relationship with the Chinese state in general, and the antics of its military in the South China Sea in particular, are becoming a major issue for Canberra.

It’s time to pin the blame for the Parliament hack

Whoever becomes prime minister after the election will face a sobering moment in Australia’s China policy.

The ADF must invest in new technology

The Federal government has invested in new planes, ships and fighting vehicles to strengthen Australia’s armed forces but it should also embrace experimentation and investment in autonomous and semi-autonomous systems for land, air, sea and undersea operations.

Dealing with the dragon

China’s recent disruption of Australian coal exports underlines the country’s need to diversify exports to Indonesia, India and other nations, rather than relying so heavily on just one trading partner.

Strengthening the north is a strategic priority

Renewing a serious Australian defence presence in the nation’s north should become a compelling and increasingly urgent matter of strategic policy and capability planning given increasing regional threats.

Morrison’s Pacific pivot

The Prime Minister has outlined a practical and imaginative new strategy on issues critical to our region’s security, prosperity and people-to-people connections.

Why upholding our values matters

Whether it’s state-sanctioned murder or states creating generations of radicalised people, what we walk past is what we allow. Let’s look beyond our wallets and our noses and resurrect a sense of an international community, with the ability to intervene and punish, to hold to account and to act. Values matter, but only when they are made real through actions.