Australia should be self-reliant
IT can get very challenging down here in the bunker after what seems like several months of social isolation.
After completing routine chores, days seem to be largely taken up with gathering around the wireless or watching ancient TV documentaries. This can be an instructive journey. There’s a certain familiarity with WWII’S darkest days, when the light at the end of the tunnel was far off.
In Europe Hitler was busy implementing what he believed would be a 1000-year Reich.
Australia fared a little better than Europe, our isolation offering some protection from the worst of the war and Japan’s desire to rule our region in perpetuity.
Japan managed some minor intrusions here, particularly in the farnorth, where some inconvenient bombing, including in Townsville rattled windows as well as nerves.
That geographic isolation has served Australia well, keeping away not only state invaders.
Forward defence has always been a cornerstone of Australia’s military posture, combined with judicious material procurement plans, though not always co-ordinated.
Coastal fortresses including Kissing Point were technically obsolete when constructed against Russian adventurism in the late 19th century.
Australia’s plans to purchase a handful of yet to be designed conventional French submarines defies logic, especially given the last of these petits bateaux is not due to enter service until 2050.
This week’s announcement
Australia will acquire state of the art defence assets is welcome news, but will they enter service in time to be a real deterrent against Chinese belligerence?
Will they be constructed here? As Britain discovered to its cost post-wwi when it allowed its defence industries to atrophy, self-reliance in defence material is far preferable than having to recreate such capabilities at short notice.
Australia’s political landscape will be very different when the new assets finally enter service.
This week Russian President Vladimir Putin arranged for himself at least another 16 years in the job.
Born in 1952, that will make him 84years-old when that term expires in 2036, if he doesn’t expire first.
Chinese President Xi, born in 1953, legislated in 2018 to remove time limits on his role, which now encapsulates all political, administrative and military power. Is it too much to hope obsolete equipment may prove too difficult for ancient, decrepit leadership?