Skilled and unskilled labour is already scarce in the Northern Territory construction-project sector, and it will soon get scarcer. With the Australian and US defence departments well into upgrading bases in the territory, two big …
The Strategist on: "North of 26° south"
To make a good battery, you need fluorine, an element that is sourced from the mineral fluorspar. That presents a looming problem for China and its considerable efforts to dominate the global electric vehicle (EV) …
If Australia wants the ability to sustain northern air power, it needs air force bases that can fend off attacking missiles and also quickly recover from the hits by those that successfully penetrate. The Royal …
For a glimpse into Australia’s future in a rapidly changing climate, have a look at Queensland, our most hazard-prone state. Recent government data shows that in the past three years, 60 of the state’s 77 …
Australia really does run on the smell of an oily rag. Our fuel reserves are pitifully low by international standards, and we produce very little fuel domestically. This is a risk, both strategically and economically. …
Australia’s food security should not be taken for granted. The Covid-19 pandemic shows what can go wrong with it during seismic strategic challenges. January’s empty supermarket shelves across Darwin, caused by flooding, illustrate the precarious …
The Yemeni Houthi rebels’ continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea serve as a reminder that global supply chains remain highly vulnerable to disruption. Moreover, it highlights how food insecurity can simultaneously be an …
Collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders is vital for Defence to develop its capabilities, strategies and policies in response to Australia’s changing strategic environment. Getting consultation right will be critical to that. Defence’s need …
The September 2023 announcement designating Townsville as the hub for armoured vehicles and Army attack and medium-lift aviation triggers a sense of déjà vu—about Plan Beersheba. This strategic shift, a direct outcome of the 2023 …
In a sold-out stadium in Miami on 21 March 2023, watched by a record audience worldwide, Shohei Ohtani, Japan’s talisman player, threw out the final pitch against US star player Mike Trout. Trout, Ohtani’s former …
Australia’s support for the deployment of international fibre-optic cables in the South Pacific is a relatively recent development. Prior to 2017, the Australian government’s support for digital development in Pacific island countries (PICs) was focused …
According to Defence, investment in northern Australia is needed to help it achieve a robust national posture against threat from Australia’s northern reaches. And for northern Australian communities, especially in the Northern Territory, this is …