logo
ASPI senior defence analyst says Australia needs to be prepared for ‘protracted war'

ASPI senior defence analyst says Australia needs to be prepared for ‘protracted war'

News.com.au7 hours ago

A senior security expert has warned of the 'very clear threat' of China invading Taiwan, urging Australia to upgrade its defence capabilities and warning that Australia 'needs to be ready for the prospect' of war.
Malcolm Davis, a senior defence strategy analyst at conservative think tank the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, urged the government to increase spending to safeguard against China's rising aggression and influence in the Pacific.
The comments come as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Australia to uplift its spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, with levels currently set to increase to 2.33 per cent by 2033-34.
Australia's defence budget is expected to come under further scrutiny with Anthony Albanese expected to have a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of this weekend's G7 Leaders Summit in Canada.
Speaking to Sky on Monday, Mr Davis agreed with comments from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and said there was 'very clear threat that China is going to move on Taiwan within the next to three years'.
He said Australia needed to ensure that our military assets were up to the task of responding to a 'protracted war,' flagging the need for improved resilience against 'integrated air and missile defence systems'.
'(Defence spending) needs to include sustainability and building sustainability for protracted war that could last months or years in our region, and ensure that we can stay in the fight, a high intensity fight, for that period of time,' he said.
'And it includes preparedness and essentially, the ability to respond to challenges and attacks on our society and our country.
'I think that we do need to be ready for the prospect that if war does happen, Australia will be attacked directly.'
Mr Davis said the spending needed to be accelerated 'not in 10 years' but in a 'year or two,' adding that investment needs to also be 'smart and targeted'.
The defence expert also said critical infrastructure in Australia's north, like RWF Tindall, ports, oil and energy facilities were all 'essentially undefended'.
'The government talks about building integrated air and missile defence systems, and they have developed the command and control system for that, but they don't have any missiles to shoot with,' he continued.
'They talk about possibly using a naval based missile or an air based missile, but those platforms have to be in the right place at the right time.'
Although Defence Minister Richard Marles has left the door open for further discussions with the US, stating that the government was 'clearly willing to have the conversation with America,' he said the outcome will be based on Australia's 'national interest'.
'We will work it through from there and make sure that we do the appropriate defence spending based on meeting the strategic moment,' he told Sky.
Mr Albanese has recently clashed with the conservative think tank after it released a report stating a 'generational investment' in defence has been 'put off for another generation'.
Report author and former home affairs deputy secretary Mark Ablong said a failure to boost defence 'will make all Australians less secure,' and 'risks a brittle and hollowed defence force' and a 'paper ADF'.
However Mr Albanese rubbished the report as 'predictable' and political and stood by the government's plan.
'ASPI regularly produce these sort of reports, you know, run by people who have been in a position to make a difference in the past as part of former governments,' he told ABC radio.
'You know, I think it's predictable, frankly.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

West Australia could realign its public holidays with eastern states
West Australia could realign its public holidays with eastern states

The Australian

time2 hours ago

  • The Australian

West Australia could realign its public holidays with eastern states

West Australians could be treated to an additional public holiday next year as the state looks at aligning its system with the east coast. WA currently has the lowest number of public holidays in the nation, and usually has a day off one week earlier than its eastern state counterparts. The state celebrates WA Day on the fist Monday in June, then celebrates the Kings Birthday on the fourth weekend in September. Most other states and territories celebrate the Kings Birthday on the second weekend in June. Premier Roger Cook said it was ridiculous to have a situation where Western Australia closes its doors when the east coast was open for business. Picture: NewsWire/ Sharon Smith Premier Roger Cook said his department was looking at realigning West Australian public holidays with the east coast so they were better synched. 'It is ridiculous you have a situation where Western Australia closes its doors or shuts the shop when the east coast is open for business,' he said. 'Today of course, you'll have frustrated members of the Western Australian business community that can't access their colleagues on the east coast. 'I'm reviewing the whole range of public holidays we have in Western Australia and where they land to make sure that we've got better alignment and that they work better for the WA community 'We are part of a national economy, and we should be working together much better to ensure better alignment around these days. ' Premier Roger Cook said his department was looking at realigning WA's public holidays with the east coast. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow CCIWA chief economist Aaron Morey said it was a good call from the premier but he did not support an additional public holiday. 'I think it's a good call from the Premier and lining up holidays definitely has public merit, how many birthdays does the king need?' he said. 'We're going to see some distraction today, the Melbourne Collingwood game on, I think people would rather be at home watching that.' But Mr Morey said he did not support having an additional public holiday in WA, which were huge headache for small businesses doing it tough. 'Someone might see a public holiday as a benefit, but for a small business, they just see another day when they have to pay $65 an hour for someone to wash dishes,' he said. 'It's really difficult for small business to navigate and to plan around public holidays, and so certainly not supportive of that concept.'

Sussan Ley to deliver National Press Club address, first Liberal leader to do so since Scott Morrison
Sussan Ley to deliver National Press Club address, first Liberal leader to do so since Scott Morrison

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Sussan Ley to deliver National Press Club address, first Liberal leader to do so since Scott Morrison

Sussan Ley will give a significant speech at the National Press Club in a move aimed to distance herself from her predecessor Peter Dutton. The Opposition Leader is set to outline her vision for the new-look Liberal Party after it suffered its worst election result, with the Coalition reduced to a paltry 43 seats compared with Labor's 94. However, Ms Ley is not expected to share any new policy announcements, with the party still reviewing its agenda following May's blistering loss. Instead, she will detail how the Liberals will aim to win back voters ahead of the next federal poll due in 2028. 'Addressing the National Press Club is an important opportunity to talk to Australians about the work the Liberal Party will do over the next three years to reflect, respect and represent modern Australia,' she said, ahead of her appearance on June 25. 'Aspiration is the thread that connects every single part of Australian society and by focusing on that, the Liberal Party can once again earn the trust of communities across the country.' Anthony Albanese will address the National Press Club on Tuesday, with his speech set to detail Labor's second-term agenda. The Prime Minister was critical of former opposition leader Peter Dutton of eschewing addressing the club, accusing him of being 'unwilling to face up to the scrutiny'. The speeches are generally televised live and speakers are expected to answer questions from journalists following their remarks. 'For a leader, being here in the last week of the election campaign is more than a matter of respect for tradition,' Mr Albanese told the club a week before the May 3 federal election. 'Standing here is about taking responsibility for your plans. Being here is about being accountable, to the people, to the democratic process.' Ms Ley will also be the first female major party leader to address the National Press Club since Julia Gillard, who fronted the venue prior to Labor's losing election in 2013. Ms Ley will also be first Liberal leader to do so since the appearance of then prime minister Scott Morrison in 2022.

Big majority doesn't mean big plans, Albanese cautions
Big majority doesn't mean big plans, Albanese cautions

AU Financial Review

time2 hours ago

  • AU Financial Review

Big majority doesn't mean big plans, Albanese cautions

Anthony Albanese is hosing down expectations his government is about to embark on a bold new agenda just because it has a commanding majority, saying it must first deliver on what it has already promised so as not to sabotage voter goodwill. In his first major speech since Labor's election victory last month, the prime minister will tell the National Press Club on Tuesday that his government's immediate focus is the delivery of its current agenda, whether that be the transition to clean energy, housing, bolstering Medicare or seeing people through the cost of living crisis.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store