Page 40 - AAPT March 2019

Defence
Australia’s defence and

security: are we doing enough?

One of the proudest boasts of the livelihood is tied to the sea, with our have long assumed it to be.
Coalition government is that it takes security and prosperity dependent Both warship numbers and
national security seriously, and it does. on access to the Pacific and Indian capabilities are important, especially
Over the next 10 years, Australia Oceans. Our exports must travel by if you accept global responsibilities. In
will spend $200 billion on defence in ship to reach their destinations, and 1989, the US Navy had 594 combat
the nation’s largest ever peacetime we rely on the sea lanes to import ships. Now it has 275. The US plans
rearmament program. As the federal liquid fuel and other vital goods. to rebuild to 355 ships, but admits that
election looms, it is fair to ask why we Australians tend to pay little this can’t be achieved within 30 years
are doing it and what are we getting attention to this simple fact because we and that the overall cost will be a third
for it. have seldom had reason to. We have higher than that of today’s navy. And
In simple terms, we are rearming always allied with ‘great and powerful recent US defence budget increases
because the strategic environment has friends’ that could be counted on to are unlikely to last.
changed dramatically, especially in the keep our sea lanes open. Initially, the The US considers that the West
maritime domain. Almost half of that Royal Navy was Australia’s guarantor. is being challenged by four nations:
$200 billion is earmarked for the navy, Then the US Navy took its place—and China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
$90 billion of which will go to building in the 75 years since World War II, it Both Australia and the US describe our
56 warships in Australia. Unfortunately, hasn’t faced a peer competitor. But the regional geostrategic environment as
the build won’t be complete until the strategic environment has changed. the Indo-Pacific. Three of those four
mid-2050s. The US Navy, by its own admission, challengers are in our region. If things
Geography means that Australia’s is not the globally dominant force we go bad, this has major implications

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