Defence Strategic Review & Australia's Strategic Future

The long-awaited Defence Strategic Review (“DSR”) has been touted by the Federal Labor Government as the most significant review in 40 years. Unfortunately, the public version of the Government’s response to the DSR will effectively gut the Australian Army.

The Government’s push to realise long-range strike capability, while in itself a good thing, comes at the expense of hundreds of Infantry Fighting Vehicles which were set to replace the 60-year-old M113 armoured personnel carriers which saw service in Vietnam. No war has ever been won purely in the air and at sea. In 2023, the domains of land, space and cyber have never been more important. A credible fighting infantry supported by armour and artillery is essential. The gutting of 321 IFVs from 450 to 129 units will leave Australia’s infantry exposed, as will the decision to cut two regiments of self-propelled Howitzers down to one.

I welcome the Government’s decision to implement a National Defence Strategy, though I’m concerned that we won’t see it until June 2024. At the same time, I’m calling for a whole-of-nation National Security Strategy.

The Government has also missed an opportunity to establish a standalone statutory parliamentary committee for defence, much like the PJCIS, which would allow for greater probity and accountability without risking the compromise of defence intelligence. It just shows that, once again, our Labor is putting our strategic future at risk https://issuu.com/Maleny-Grapevine-Community-News