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Articles on Defence White Paper

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China’s rising influence in the region has alarmed many defence experts. But the question remains: would Australia ever need to fight China on its own? Joel Carrett/AAP

With China-US tensions on the rise, does Australia need a new defence strategy?

Australia committed A$195 billion to defence spending in 2016, but many now believe this is insufficient with China’s rising influence in the region.
While Marise Payne participated in Tuesday’s cabinet meeting by telephone, she is not well enough to travel to Japan. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Payne ill health leads to deferral of Australia-Japan talks

The Australia-Japan foreign and defence ministers’ ‘two-plus-two’ talks, due to be held in Japan before Christmas, are being deferred because of Marise Payne’s recent illness.
The French submarine, Shortfin Barracuda, designed by the DCNS group, to be the design base for Australia’s new fleet. AAP Image/DCNS Group

What do we want from Australia’s new submarines?

Australia’s new submarine fleet will be designed for a range of different missions in our challenging maritime environment.
The DCNS Shortfin Barracuda is a large submarine, but that might suit our needs. AAP/DCNS Group

Why does Australia need submarines at all?

Submarines possess a number of unique capabilities that make them ideal to protect Australia’s interests.
Tony Abbott’s previous timetable for acquiring new submarines was criticised in parliament by Malcolm Turnbull. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Abbott-Turnbull conflict goes nuclear

It’s ON between Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull – the political equivalent of nuclear war.
Australian defence ranges, such as Shoalwater Bay, cover some 3 million hectares of the country. DVIDSHUB/Flickr/Wikimedia Commons

Defence white paper shows Australian forces must safeguard nature too

Australia’s defence forces manage huge swathes of land which are home to valuable ecosystems. The new defence white paper finally acknowledges the importance of looking after them.
AAP/Mick Tsikas

Defence: more bucks for our bangs

To say the defence white paper was “much anticipated” would be an understatement. Was it worth the wait in the end? That rather depends on who you are and what your assessment of the risks Australia faces…
Defence Minister Marise Payne inherited a draft of the defence white paper last year, but wanted to put her own stamp on it. Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Defence white paper: an extra $29.9 billion spending over a decade

The defence white paper will pledge an additional $29.9 billion in defence spending over the coming decade and support for businesses to innovate in areas such as cyber security and aeronautics.
Defence diplomacy will not substantially transform the overall picture of Asia’s ongoing political cleavages. AAP

The 2016 white paper must get it right on defence diplomacy

The coming defence white paper presents an opening for the Turnbull government to place its stamp on national security priorities and to align planning and policy settings with its strategic vision.
Climate change will affect defence personnel themselves, as well as the kind of situations they find themselves deployed in. AAP Image/Australian Department of Defence, Corporal Ricky Fuller

Political warfare on climate could leave national security at risk

Nations such as the United States have treated climate change as a major security threat for years. The Australian government’s forthcoming Defence White Paper cannot afford to ignore the issue.

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