by Michael Shoebridge | Feb 21, 2025 | China, Policy, Strategy & Capability
As we see China’s PLA-Navy warships firing live weapons in the waters between Australia and New Zealand, it’s time to act on the fact that Australia’s geography no longer protects our population or key infrastructure from military threats. We have an...
by Marcus Hellyer | Feb 21, 2025 | Defence Budget, Policy
One of the challenges facing those who attempt to scrutinise the performance of the Australian Department of Defence is the general lack of transparency. Since Defence isn’t required to release many kinds of information, it simply doesn’t. This is compounded by the...
by Graeme Dunk | Feb 20, 2025 | Policy, Strategy & Capability
In the recent years, Australian Governments have made repeated announcements about building/rebuilding a viable, sustainable and innovative domestic industry for defence. The most recent example is that of Defence Minister Marles promising $262 million to get...
by Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge | Feb 14, 2025 | AUKUS, Podcasts
When Karens take power; building a hedge of frigat | RSS.com In Episode 32, the Grumpy Strategists apply science to the Australian government’s early engagement with the Trump Administration. Insights from prey species threatened by a predator help. They look at...
by Mike Kelly and Anthony Bergin | Feb 14, 2025 | Uncategorized
The spectacle from Gaza during hostage releases by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have raised equal portions of disgust and concern. Watching Hamas’s behaviour featuring show bags, “graduation certificates” and incitement of blood lust in the baying...
by Rob Bourke | Feb 14, 2025 | Defence Budget, Policy, Strategy & Capability
This month marks the first anniversary of the release of the government’s 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy. At that time, the Strategy attracted little attention besides some pretty critical reviews. Not much has changed since—despite the document dealing...
by Michael Shoebridge | Feb 12, 2025 | AUKUS, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
No one should take any comfort from the recent engagement that Defence Minister Richard Marles had with newly-appointed Pentagon chief, Pete Hesgeth in Washington last week. Instead, we should prepare for the obvious demand Donald Trump will make of Australia and...
by Anthony Bergin and Tony Joseph | Feb 12, 2025 | Policy
In January, a caravan was found in Sydney packed with explosives with a note in the vehicle listing Jewish addresses, including a synagogue. Places of worship have long been terrorist targets because of their symbolic value and limited security...
by Peter Jennings | Feb 6, 2025 | Policy
President Trump’s instinct to disrupt established pathways and his lack of deep engagement in international affairs is what allows the idea that “the US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too”. In his first term, Trump stunned the foreign...
by Marcus Hellyer | Feb 4, 2025 | AUKUS, Defence Budget, Strategy & Capability
Last year I warned about the proliferation of unsubstantiated claims about the economic benefits to Australia of AUKUS and the domestic construction of nuclear submarines. Such claims are nonsense. All economists will tell you that defence spending simply transfers...
