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The shadow minister has called on the government to focus on three key priorities to advance Australia’s defence posture in an increasingly precarious geostrategic environment.
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In an address at the Inaugural AIDN Policy Symposium on Tuesday (29 November), shadow minister for defence Andrew Hastie outlined the federal opposition’s vision for a bolder defence posture against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating geostrategic environment.
The shadow minister said the opposition would back the government’s efforts to build a “strong and resilient Australia”, equipped to “resist a potential aggressor”.
“The enduring lesson of history is that weakness is provocative. The best way to secure peace is to be strong to deter those who would do us harm,” Hastie said.
“…Governments who fail in the task of deterrence invite calamity on their people.”
With war “inherently destructive, abhorrent, and unproductive”, Hastie stressed Australia must enhance its deterrence capability.
“We need to build a powerful multi-pronged strategic deterrence that has reach and resilience,” he said.
However, he urged government not to pursue a “mega project” at the expense of other key defence capabilities.
The AUKUS agreement, he added, would help support the delivery of deterrence capability, most notably through the nuclear-submarine program.
Drawing from lessons learned from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hastie went on to stress the importance of building Australia’s self-reliance, stating the nation must be capable of surviving on its own.
“The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the need for deep stocks of ammunition, pharmaceuticals, and fuel — among the other many essentials of war,” he said.
“Our energy grids must be resilient to cyber attack and disruption.
“The obvious point is that we need more than one shot in a locker, to quote Paul Keating, and that we need depth in his industry and strength in supply.”
Accordingly, he called on government to invest in local manufacturers and supply chains to ensure Australia can “withstand an initial shock of war, and for longer, if needed”.
The shadow minister dismisses claims the market can address supply gaps, claiming government must play an active role in shoring up Australia’s reserves.
“For many years, I've heard a tired trope that the market will take care of things. I've had plenty of conversations in my office, particularly with people in the fuel sector saying, ‘don't worry about it, the market will take care of things, there’s fuel floating out on the ocean’.
“…That is the luxury of a stable global economic order and ignores the escalating strategic disorder fuelled by geopolitical competition across many sectors — diplomatic, economic, financial and military.”
Hastie concludes by calling for a ramp up in investment in cyber and space capabilities, noting warfare has transitioned beyond the traditional domains of land, air, and sea.
“Not only do our systems, therefore, need to be secure, but our people need to be hack-proof as well,” he added.
“…Even as we invest in strike capabilities, we must not neglect emerging capabilities in cyber and space, [and] nor can we neglect fortifying ourselves against misinformation.”
[Related: Opposition lambasts LAND 400 delay]
