Jennifer Parker is an adjunct professor with the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute and a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute. She served for more than 20 years as a warfare officer in the Royal Australian Navy.
I served with Susan Coyle, the first woman to lead a service in the ADF. Her appointment is historic but based on nothing but merit.
Criticism of this vital defence program has been long on assertion and short on credible alternatives.
The US-Israel attack on Iran is high-risk. It may fail. It may distract America from the Indo-Pacific, but if it succeeds, it could also strengthen deterrence in our region and enhance Australia’s security.
The UK has experienced decades of underinvestment and a shortage of trained personnel. But all is not lost.
Recent crises in Venezuela, the Middle East and the South China Sea highlight hard choices Australia must confront.
When Marles and Wong go to the US, it would benefit us all if they got down to brass tacks about the defence of Australia in the event of war – above and beyond our own military spending.
Australia needs a thorough debate about its deficient defence budget, not dopey insults from a former PM.
Australia is set to sign a defence pact with Papua New Guinea this week – and it’s the kind of partnership that will be critical to the nation’s security.
The US wants Australia to clarify its role in any Taiwan-related conflict. But what happens if it spreads?
Australia must prepare. China attacking Taiwan is not inevitable, but if it happens, it will become a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific conflict.