Fifty years after the Tange reforms created the modern Australian Defence Force, Australia faces a structural problem that few are willing to confront: steady erosion of the service chiefs’ authority. Over successive reviews and reorganisations, …
‘We’re having to reconsider Australia as a homeland from which we will conduct combat operations’, the chief of the defence force, Admiral David Johnston, surprised some listeners by saying at ASPI’s annual defence conference on …
On 29 May, ASPI released its annual defence budget briefing, The Cost of Defence. Introducing the report, ASPI executive director Justin Bassi reflected on its aim of ‘strengthening Australia’s long-term security, prosperity and sovereignty’ and its …
The Australian Defence Organisation’s budget is under pressure, and Defence must make choices, Admiral David Johnston, the chief of the defence force, said on 4 June when asked whether more money was needed. In preparation …
In 2002 Ray Griggs, then captain of the frigate HMAS Arunta, took his ship to the Persian Gulf to help enforce UN sanctions against Iraq. The Anzac-class frigate was equipped with eight air defence missiles …




