Australia Unprepared – War is a risky businesS
MEDIA RELEASE
Australia is unprepared for and lacking in appreciation of the risks of war, according to a senior experienced defence expert. This is a significant danger in the current deteriorating global strategic environment.
In a critical comment paper, former Chief of the Australian Army and current Chair of the Returned & Services League of Australia’s (RSL) Defence and National Security Committee, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Peter Leahy has called on the Australian Government to take urgent action to confront current strategic risks and ensure that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has the ability to address them.
General Leahy wrote that this would require significantly more funding for Defence now and well into the future.
The almost total lack of consideration of Defence matters during the recent election campaign and the current focus on a far-off distant, enormously expensive force demonstrates how willing our politicians are prepared to tolerate risk.
This is an abrogation of the primary responsibility of our elected representatives to provide for the Defence and security of the nation and the safety of our servicemen and women.”
Politicians select the wars, the partners and allies we choose, the strategies we select and ultimately where, when and how we fight. Crucially, they decide the Defence budget, which dictates the nature and shape of the force and its readiness and preparedness for future missions.
Strategic decisions over the past 20 years have committed us to contentious and ultimately unwinnable wars with ill-defined or ineffective strategies, with too few, ill-suited and dated capabilities.
Australia was not ready for East Timor and the type, nature and range of forces available for Afghanistan and Iraq curtailed our deployment options. Political decisions restrained the number of troops and capabilities deployed to the detriment of tactical and operational objectives.”
The recent surprise circumnavigation of Australia by a Chinese naval force sounded a warning but provoked only a limp response from Government. Now, Britain has been placed on a war footing and plans to lift Defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 and to three percent in 2034. Even this has been described by analysts as ‘too little, too late’.
Australia remains seemingly oblivious to the risk and changing strategic circumstances, doesn’t consider or ignores the lessons of the past, doesn’t spend enough on Defence, allows current capabilities to wither and then we are left to lament that we are not ready or prepared.
Those who wear Australia’s uniform place great trust in those who task and equip them. Currently, this trust is not being honoured, General Leahy wrote.
