by Marcus Hellyer | Mar 5, 2025 | Defence Budget, Policy, Strategy & Capability, Uncategorized
The Government recently released the 2024-25 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) which are meant to report on how departments are going at delivering on the policy goals and spending plans set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS). This year’s...
by Michael Shoebridge | Mar 4, 2025 | Europe, Strategy & Capability, Ukraine
After the disastrous Oval Office meeting with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump is pausing all military aid to Ukraine. This is apparently to force Mr Zelensky to do two things: apologise to President Trump for not being grateful enough for his...
by Marcus Hellyer | Mar 3, 2025 | AUKUS, China, Indo Pacific, Policy, Strategy & Capability
It’s important not to panic and to jump at ghosts and shadows. But when the facts change, a sane person changes their plans. Simply continuing down the same path while ignoring reality is as irresponsible as wildly panicking. And the facts have changed—the second...
by Michael Shoebridge | Feb 25, 2025 | China, Indo Pacific, Policy, South Pacific, Strategy & Capability
The Chinese military’s no-notice live firing between Australia and New Zealand is bringing deliberate and dangerous behaviour into our peaceful neighbourhood. Of course, China is telling everyone this is all good because it’s not illegal, but it’s odd to...
by Peter Jennings | Feb 22, 2025 | China, Strategy & Capability
Beijing uses its military forces to send what diplomats call “signals” or, in plainer language, threats and warnings. What messages does Xi Jinping want Australia to take from the imminent prospect of the Chinese navy firing missiles off our east coast? First,...
