Foreword

With the continuing conflict in Ukraine, and the growing prospect of geostrategic challenge within our own region, it is clear that the international security environment is rapidly evolving. Through the work of this inquiry and its Report, the Subcommittee has aimed to provide a timely snapshot of how Australia’s Defence Forces and Department are responding to these issues, and how our own national interests are being met.

Four years on from Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and brutal invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine’s resistance remains a beacon for democracies everywhere. But the conflict has taken, and continues to exact, a bloody toll on Ukraine’s people. The rapid evolution of and interaction between military tactics, strategy and emerging hardware is providing an education to powers around the world on the industrial capacity needed to support any future war.

Autonomous technologies are now a fact of modern warfare, yet the lessons of a land war in Europe are not directly translatable to Australia’s defence thinking. Instead, we must place ourselves firmly at the forefront of understanding and developing the technologies involved, while also making sure we apply their capabilities within Australia’s geographic location as an island nation within Asia.

The National Defence Strategy is already alive to this reality with the government directing more than $10 billion towards technologies, resulting in the Ghost Bat aerial and Ghost Shark maritime platforms, as well as other autonomous surveillance and monitoring technologies. Further incentives to develop capacity have been delivered through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator.

We know that these investments will not be the only focus when it comes to the development of autonomous technologies. High-end options will provide valuable high-level capabilities. We also see from Ukraine how cheaper, more flexible and expendable devices – think $500 rather than $5 million – are proving critical.

We must remain connected to our international peers and their approaches and always think of how they could apply to Australia. Taiwan has developed a national drone strategy centred on creating a non-mainland supply chain which aims for 80 percent self-sufficiency in the production of 50,000 military and commercial drones. Estonia has announced plans to train thousands of civilians in military-grade drone skills. Latvia has organised a Drone Coalition to support Ukraine, of which Australia is a part.

As we think of our future defence challenges, we must look for ways to ensure that our domestic manufacturing sector retains and expands its capacity to produce and develop these technologies as needed, and at the scale that circumstances demand. A whole-of-society approach will be needed to embrace these technologies when the time comes for national defence.

Reorientation of our defence forces has been another area of focus of our inquiry. Work is well underway to fortify our northern bases. These include enhanced capability in Townsville, Darwin and Western Australia serving as staging posts for engagements to our north. Bases in the southern half of the continent continue provide maintenance and sustainment. This “National Defence” approach is daring and ambitious while requiring significant investment over the short, medium and long term. Our report confirms the need for consultation to continue with the Northern Territory government to ensure that Defence’s northern bases remain an attractive place for personnel and their families to locate to. Increasing our defence presence needs to be aligned with improving the lives of locals through community infrastructure, cohesion and economic growth.

The pinnacle of Australia’s evolving strategic change is the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, representing the ‘apex predator’ in terms of defending our shores. The AUKUS agreement deepens our cooperation with our most trusted allies and furthers Australia’s technological advantage in the region, significantly contributing to deterrence. Yet the AUKUS story is also one of jobs, and the opportunities to continue to position our communities across the nation to share in this dividend must be seized.

International military cooperation is now more important than ever in supporting Australia’s strategic position. Without cooperation, managing Australia’s position within the geostrategic landscape becomes difficult. Traditional alliances will continue to be vital for Australia’s national security, and newer alliances will also play a significant role in maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

We have provided 23 recommendations in our report to support Defence’s ongoing mission. Our recommendations cover a range of areas across the breadth of Australia’s security architecture, from the reinstatement of maternity services in Darwin, to AUKUS industry engagement. These recommendations help fulfil the important scrutiny function of the Parliament.It is our role to ensure that every dollar of taxpayer investment in our national defence by and for the Australian people is put to hard work in our national interest. I look forward to these proposals being given thorough consideration by the government.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge the work of many who have contributed to this report. The initial hearings for this inquiry were conducted under the leadership of the previous Subcommittee Chair the Hon. Brendan O’Connor, whose work I acknowledge and for which I thank him and his Committee members. I also thank my fellow Subcommittee members for their work in this, the 48th Parliament.I appreciate your support and the hard work of those who joined me on the road to visit Defence sites and to take evidence which informed the Report.Throughout this inquiry and in the report drafting process I would particularly like to thank Mr Batt, Mr Rebello, Ms Clutterham, Senator Whiteaker, Mr Gosling, the Hon. Mr McCormack, Ms Spender, Ms Templeman, Mr Zappia, Senator Dean Smith, Ms Jarrett and Senator Cadell.

Parliamentary and departmental staff have also been of immense value, and I particularly thank Committee Secretary Andrew Bray and his team, as well as their counterparts in the Department and ADF, including Defence Attaché Peter Wynter.

This is the first time that the Subcommittee has taken evidence in public following site visits.We intend to continue to do so to fulfil our scrutiny role without any compromise to national security.It is also vital that all Australians who wish to understand and engage with the work of the Parliament regarding matters of Defence can attend, or read transcripts of public hearings, to better understand what is happening in their Defence Forces. I wish to recognise the support of the Deputy Chair of the Subcommittee, Mr Boyce. I also thank Hon. Shayne Neumann MP for his fine leadership and sound counsel as Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade under which the Defence Subcommittee operates.

I commend this Report to the Parliament.

Senator Deborah O'Neill

ChairDefence Subcommittee