, which outlined a transformation of the Australian Defence Force for 21st century challenges, headlined by China’s own relentless military modernisation.“You deter aggression, by showing strength and putting question marks in potential aggressors’ minds. And obviously, the ultimate question mark is nuclear propelled, conventionally armed attack submarines.
The Defence Strategic Review found Australia’s military was “not fit for purpose” and a more integrated Defence Force was required to operate seamlessly across the five domains of land, air, sea, space and cyber.Warning that China’s military build up is the biggest of any country since the end of World War II, among the review’s recommendations were th, expand northern bases and reconfigure the army for amphibious operations.
At the ALP national conference on Friday, Conroy argued that those opposing the AUKUS partnership were “appeasers” in the face of rising threats.“An insurance policy presumes that it’s there just in case something happens,” he says. “I would say it’s more about avoiding what could happen. It obviously provides insurance should we be in a conflict, but strong deterrence avoids it.
Finally, Conroy says the government has committed to a higher trajectory for defence spending over the next ten years compared to the previous administration. “The last government for the first two years of GWEO, they produced two things. And they were two media releases,” Conroy says. “But I also recognise that certainly one of the recommendations of the DSR and something that I’m trying to drive is that it also requires urgency and flexibility from Defence,” he says.
“On capability, I’m very committed to increasing capability within defence, particularly around project management, engineering, acquisition and legal skills, so they can be a better customer.”This emphasis on “speed to capability” has sparked alarm among some homegrown defence contractors that they willand systems.