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With growing concerns about the potential for conflict close to home, Australia and New Zealand are being encouraged to join forces to establish an integrated Anzac military force.
The legacy of the Anzacs is as vivid as the red dust of the outback – a tale woven with the threads of courage, mateship and unyielding sacrifice. Born during the turmoil of World War I, the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) emerged as a symbol of national resilience when, on 25 April 1915, a spirited band of diggers landed on the rugged shores of Gallipoli.
Their brave but ultimately futile endeavour was marked by a mix of hope and apprehension, quickly turned into a story of extraordinary grit and enduring camaraderie against overwhelming odds.
Amid the chaos of battle, these courageous soldiers faced not only a formidable enemy but also the harsh, unforgiving terrain and scorching heat of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Their struggle, filled with moments of both despair and defiant bravery, etched itself into the collective memory of our nations.
The Anzac spirit, born from the crucible of that fateful campaign, continued to shine through in the brutal trenches of the Western Front, where battles such as Pozières and Villers-Bretonneux further demonstrated their relentless determination.
Today, the world looks increasingly unpredictable and, unlike the conflagrations of the 20th century where the geographic isolation of both Australia and New Zealand provided a degree of protection, this new era of great power competition is far closer to home, prompting greater integration and collaboration between the two nations to provide and enhance collective security.
Leading this charge is former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo who has proposed a revitalisation of the 1944 Australia-New Zealand military alliance to boost the territorial and national defence of both nations.
As part of his recommendations, Pezzullo urged New Zealand to strengthen Australia’s defence by establishing an integrated Anzac force – with shared command structures and joint units dedicated to territorial defence. He also proposed that New Zealand re-evaluate its anti-nuclear policy to secure full partnership in the AUKUS security pact.
Mr Pezzullo told Defence Connect, "Like every other nation that has relied heavily on the protection afforded by the US-led security order in the Indo-Pacific, and more generally, NZ has to accept that it will have to do more for itself, and with Australia, when it comes to the defence of NZ. Australia provides a protective shield behind which NZ shelters, and NZ has a direct interest in the enduring strength of that shield."
Additionally, he warned that there is a 10 to 20 per cent chance of conflict with China – a risk he believes is significant enough to compel both nations to make serious preparations.
Pezzullo said in an interview with Dr Oliver Hartwich, “The defence of New Zealand actually starts at the outer edge of the Australian territorial sphere. If Australia goes down, if Australia is militarily defeated or has its sovereignty severely impacted by military coercion, then New Zealand is next.”
