Ideas & Society | How to Defend Australia: Some Alternative Visions

For the past decade, mainstream Australian defence policy and its underlying assumptions have been challenged, with both courage and originality, by Professor Hugh White, one of Australia’s pre-eminent defence thinkers. In this Ideas and Society event he will be in conversation about an alternative defence policy with two of Australia’s most respected younger defence analysts, Associate Professor Bec Strating of La Trobe Asia and Sam Roggeveen of the Lowy Institute. For those concerned about Australia’s future, this is an event not to be missed.
Almost everyone acknowledges that with the rise of China as a great military power, Australia faces a new and potentially very dangerous security situation.
As we await the report into the defence of Australia of Air Chief Marshall, Angus Houston, and former Minister of Defence, Stephen Smith, we already know that the Albanese government has accepted the fundamental decisions of its predecessor.
Our defence will rely on even closer ties to Australia’s traditional “great and powerful friends” not only the United States but also the United Kingdom, formalised in the new tripartite arrangement, AUKUS.
Australia’s most important weapon will be several nuclear-powered submarines, built in Adelaide under the close supervision principally of American but also British experts.
It will take several decades before these submarines are in service. When they are, they will be capable of action at a great distance from the Australian continent.
Emeritus Professor Robert Manne AO, the Convenor of La Trobe University’s Ideas and Society Program, argues:
“Australia’s defence now relies on a single geo-political gamble, namely that in the long-term the United States will remain both fully engaged and dominant in the Indo-Pacific region, despite the growing challenge of China.
“As a result of the recent decisions of the Morrison and Albanese governments, Australian defence relations with the United States will for several decades be so intertwined, at so many levels, that if the United States is involved in war with China, Australia will have no alternative but to follow.
“This involves, in effect, a voluntary cession of Australia’s sovereignty.”
For the past decade, mainstream Australian defence policy and its underlying assumptions have been challenged, with both courage and originality, by Professor Hugh White, one of Australia’s pre-eminent defence thinkers.
In this Ideas and Society event he will be in conversation about an alternative defence policy with two of Australia’s most respected younger defence analysts, Associate Professor Bec Strating of La Trobe Asia and Sam Roggeveen of the Lowy Institute.
For those concerned about Australia’s future, this is an event not to be missed.

[@harpermcalpineblack8573]

I was waiting for some discussion about Indonesia. Thanks. Malaysia too. I note that our neighbors are not nearly so Russophobic or as Israel-psychophantic as Australia, and our capacity to interfere ("contribute") in far away conflicts without local consequences has depended upon us being big and our neighbors being small. The time is coming when having sensitive allegiences radically out of step with our neighbors will become a problem.

[@julianshalders6047]

Paul Keatings view and experience explains the situation much clearer than these ignorant amateurs.

[@joeyjojojrshabadoo7462]

We aren't buying subs for the defense of Australia against our enemies, we are buying subs for the forward posture for the United States against it's rivals. We got ripped pure and simple.

[@mistman5640]

1:18:00
I agree with Hugh on Indonesia. Australia should join ASEAN.

[@julianshalders6047]

We were a member of ASEAN, Paul Keating set it up in the 90s.

[@paulmathews4335]

I have only listened to about 10 minutes of this chat, I'm not really a fan of aukus but what i herd did not impress me. Saying there was a great risk we may not have the sailors that were trained well enough to operate them, that it could easy take the uk more than 10 years to go from cutting steel to a commissioned boat, well the lead boat of the astute class took 9. Also they said we would have 8 boats, I'm not sure this is correct as i thought the first 2 were about 10 years old when we get them and they have a lifespan of 35 years so they will be ready to be decommissioned close to the time the last 2 uk/aust boats are being built. So the last virginia wiil be new and add the 5 uk boat makes 6. Maybe the rest of the chat has more substance to it.

[@acomputer121]

The concerns over Australia's autonomy would make more sense to me if Australia had exercised that autonomy at any time.
We do not have strategic autonomy at present, so what autonomy is there to lose?

[@wataric1600]

Since Australia recognised d one china policy, any conflict between d Mainland n Taiwan is, under UN charter, an internal affair. So why is Australia talking about potentially coming to assist US defend Taiwan.
Seems like Australia doesn't have any real principle n doesn't respect d sovereignty of nations...or only selectively.

[@grahammorgan3858]

Soe thoughts...
Vastly increase $ enagement in our Asiapacific region ..aid, work/skills cultural and sport, dipolomacy trade tourism, education spondotship/scholsrships, targetted migration, encourage/participate/lead regional forums
Listen to our neighbours concerns and react respectfully promply and actively...seek and foster engagement and mutual understanding.
Sell multicultural multi religious welcoming Australia
Distance us from America and learn to play the middle power balance game for win win outcomes for all

[@xushenxin]

yeah, buy those nuclear sub that US want you to buy😂

[@mistman5640]

1:13:00
About India dominating south Asia, what are you reasons?
I do not see US giving up its hegemony in South Asia just as East Asia. US will dominate south Asia for a long time.