Northern Australia has always been a big place, with much of its diverse social and economic activity unseen from the outside. Even before the ink was dry on Australia’s constitution, translating policy developed in the …
The Strategist on: "North of 26° south"
One of Australia’s greatest strategic advantages is our ability to produce and export more than $80 billion worth of food and fibre annually. Our agricultural industries feed three times our population. Exports represent 70% of …
It took a while, but the idea that Australia’s strategic environment has become more uncertain seems to have been accepted by policymakers. Also largely accepted is that this period won’t just pass—in time, historians might …
Just as the world was heading towards a post-Covid-19 phase, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has provided another major disruption of international relations. While the West was quick to impose economic sanctions, their long-term implications and …
The strategic importance of northern Australia within the broader defence and national security framework has been well articulated and widely acknowledged. Related to this is the significant role critical national infrastructure plays in supporting defence …
Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, we’re more aware of the weaknesses of globalisation and the flaws of managing supply and demand through just-in-time practices. The problem is clear for Australia’s policymakers, but the solution less …
If you’re confused about what’s happening with the Port of Darwin after last week’s federal budget and the media coverage that followed, you’re not the only one. It’s always a challenge to penetrate the veil …
As Australia expands its space sector, the nation’s north is crucial. Among other advantages, its geography provides critical orbital mechanics. The Northern Territory’s Nhulunbuy launch site, being established by Equatorial Launch Australia, lies approximately 12.5 …
In the new cold war, Southeast Asia is becoming a contested zone where China, the US and its allies are fighting to sustain their access and influence. This matters deeply to Australia because the superpower …
During World War II, hushed voices in Nazi-occupied Europe shared the words, ‘The Americans are coming!’ At the time, it was a message of hope among many Europeans who felt utterly helpless. February marked the …
When Northern Territory supply chains that were already stressed by Covid-19-related delays were hit by massive flooding in January, it’s not surprising they buckled and broke. For nearly a month after acute flooding damaged railways …
Australia’s role in critical space domain awareness (SDA) is becoming a major mission for the defence force. Australia has long provided a ‘suitable piece of real estate’ as part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing community …