RSL Defence and National Security Committee
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
The RSL Defence and National Security Committee is an advisory Committee that provides discussion and position papers to the RSL National Board to assist with advocacy on defence matters. The National Board then prepares submissions to Government on matters pertaining to defence and national security in furtherance of the Objects of the League at Rule 4.f.
Guiding Principles
The RSL Defence and National Security Committee aims to be proactive, with a long-term strategic view to support decisions for today and tomorrow's ADF, and the security of Australia.
Matters for discussion should:
Deal with Australia’s Defence policy, preparedness, industrial base or the welfare of personnel
Be couched positively and constructively with suggestions for improvement
Be developed with a reasonable level of consultation to ensure their quality.
Issues Papers should clearly articulate:
The issue or problem
Why it matters
Why is the RSL interested and why its insights would be valuable
Suggestions/options to address the issue
A way forward
The consultation that has been undertaken in developing the paper.
Committee Members
Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC (Retd)
Major General Greg Melick AO RFD FANZCN SC (Retd)
Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO (Retd)
Tim Morris AM APM (AFP Retd)
VADM Peter Jones, AO DSC RAN (Retd)
Brigadier Philip Winter, AM, CSC, ADC
Lieutenant Colonel Clare O’Neill (Observer)
John Blaxland
Don Spinks AM
John Powers
Jocelyn Cronin
Issues for Discussion
Previous Meeting: 25 March 2024
Personnel Recruitment – Targets not being met at unprecedented levels.
AUKUS – Challenging fiscal and personnel demands
Navy Surface Combatant Force – Sub-optimal state with weakened shipbuilding industrial base as a result.
Australian Industry – Many defence industry companies are under stress owing to government decision delays. This has the potential to lead to a weakened defence capability.
Do you have an issue for discussion? The next meeting is 12 June 2024
Submit your item to the RSL Defence and National Security Committee using the form below:
Submissions
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Submission to the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review
The RSL has made recommendations to Government that will make Australia’s national intelligence community a much different enterprise than it is today. We believe it will result in an intelligence community that is more unified with a leaner bureaucracy, and a concept for strategic assessments that will support defence and national security strategies, enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations whilst also ensuring we have sufficient indications and warning to defend against attacks by land, sea, air, cyber and space.
Impact of the Defence and National Security Committee
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AUKUS is all there is. There is no Plan B.
17 April 2024
“AUKUS was an inspired decision. It is the right choice for Australia. Given the geo-strategic situation and the forces arrayed against us, there are no alternatives. So now we must make it work.”
Written by Committee member Peter Leahy. -
The lucky country is girt by sea no more
13 April 2024
“An assault on our homeland is not merely a possibility - it’s an inevitable reality.”
Written by Committee member John Powers and published by Fairfax Media.
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VADM Peter Jones - ANI Webinar
18 March 2024
Committee member VADM Peter Jones hosted the ANI Webinar 18 Mar: Surface Fleet Review, in which experts unpacked the Government’s announcement of the most significant force expansion since WWII.
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RSL welcomes Surface Fleet Review
24 February 2024
The Australian Naval Institute published in full the RSL media release on the surface combatants. It was included in their weekly newsletter and on their social media accounts.
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Terror mindset warped strategy
29 January 2024
“Ongoing unrest, combined with rapid technological advances, compels us to once again get strategic.”
Written by Committee member John Powers and published by Fairfax Media.