Australian Strategic Policy Institute News

Warship to join US fleet in hot zone

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

THE guided-missile frigate HMAS Sydney is about to join the US Seventh Fleet in Japan at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the South China Sea. ASPI director Peter Jennings said the deployment was significant.

With the estimated cost of accommodating the US Marine taskforce in Darwin coming in at $1.6bn, ASPI analysts Andrew Davies and Mark Thomson have said it made strategic sense for Australia to help out its US ally with the cost of its rebalancing to the Asia- Pacific region at a time of defence budget cuts in both countries

Timor-Leste playing for high stakes over oil and gas

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Timor-Leste is disputing a 2006 Treaty with Australia on Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS). Anthony Bergin explores this move in this opinion piece.

How would Australia cope in a medical emergency like Boston?

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It's a sad truth that the horrific acts we've seen in Boston happen all over the world. But it's not clear how Australia would go mounting an effective medical response if faced with a challenge of a similar scale, writes Anthony Bergin.

Defence: Enormous attack on spending

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

THE Gillard government is set to trim another large chunk from the defence budget as it seeks to cut spending in areas that carry a low risk of political damage, writes Ian McPhedran.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's defence budget expert Mark Thomson said the government should not bow to pressure from industry.
"If we were to get a fourth air warfare destroyer that would be the industry tail wagging the dog," Mr Thomson said.

Top Gun test to attract pilots

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new air force recruiting drive allows prospective recruits to go online to take intelligence tests and to simulate flying a jet.

Mark Thomson. a senior defence analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and author of a 2006 recruitment and retention review of the defence force, said interactive entertainment was necessary to attract target demographics.

New Defence White Paper on the way

Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

THE long-awaited Defence White Paper will spell out a fresh vision for Australia's defence and its response to China's rising military power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute defence budget analyst Dr Mark Thomson said the amount of money needed would depend on national aspirations.
"Hopefully the White Paper will provide a clear vision for explaining to us why we need a defence force, what it's got to do, what it's going to look like and then provide adequate funding for it," he said.

Defence wishlist doesn't add up

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings has warned that if defence spending remains at about 1.5 per cent of GDP, it will discredit a raft of new defence acquisitions set to be contained in the imminent white paper.

White Paper without funds makes no sense

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The military budget is already stretched to breaking point, writes Peter Jennings in this opinion piece.

Time is right for China dialogue

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Regular meetings, based on the Australia-US model, could benefit both sides, writes ASPI Chairman Stephen Loosley in this opinion piece.

Boston tells us not to be blind to CCTV's uses

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Anthony Bergin writes in this opinion piece that CCTV's privacy risks should be weighed against the technology's considerable benefits to public safety.

Climate change a 'threat multiplier' for Defence

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) says the military is not doing enough planning to cope with the problem of climate change.
ASPI deputy director Antony Bergin says the ADF has already been stretched by a spate of weather-related domestic disasters such as bushfires and floods, and should be factoring in how it will deal with simultaneous extreme weather events at home and in the region.

Marines lodging bill to hit $1.6bn

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

"Australian Strategic Policy Institute analysts Andrew Davies and Mark Thomson said recently it made strategic sense for Australia to help out its US ally with the cost of its rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region at a time of defence budget cuts in both countries."

Money and fighting talk

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The big gap in the Labor narrative on defence is underwater but that will soon surface again, writes Nic Stuart.
"The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Andrew Davies and Mark Thompson crunched the numbers. Defence spending is normally measured by referring to it as a proportion of gross domestic product. Over the past 12 years, the money allocated to the military has averaged out at just a bit over 1.7 per cent of GDP. But what's really extraordinary is that, all during the Howard years when we were told we were playing such a big part in the war on terror, the total spend never managed to surpass 1.79 per cent."

A harsh reminder that terrorism hasn't been defeated

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The bombing in Boston reminds us the threat of terrorism will remain for the forseeable future, writes Anthony Bergin.

SBS Ethnic radio speaks with Dr Benjamin Screer

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new study is warning Australia against signing up to US military plan that could be used against China. The plan, called Air-Sea Battle, does not officially target China, but it outlines how the US would respond to conflict with a major power. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Senior Analyst Ben Schreer recommends Australia avoid openly agreeing to the plan as this could be too confrontational for China. Schreer says because Australia is an ally of the US, Australia is expected to play a role in implementing the concept.

Middle East foothold hangs in the balance

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Defence Minister Stephen Smith told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra the continued naval presence in the Middle East reflected Australia's commitment to maritime security.

ABC News 24 speaks with Tobias Feakin in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Tobias Feakin, senior analyst for national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, about the Boston Marathon bombings. Feakin says no terror group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. He refers to terror prevention measures in London.

Progress in Afghanistan hampered by Iraq conflict

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

At an event held by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Defence Minister Stephen Smith warned that Australia must learn the lessons of the past when our forces withdraw at the end of 2014.

We must tackle the dark side of the Asian century

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A recent UN report highlights the proliferation of criminal networks in Asia. Anthony Bergin writes in this opinion piece that cooperation is key to tackling this dark side of the Asian century.

Nightmare side to China Dream

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Excerpt: It is a little-publicised, poorly understood concept called Air-Sea Battle. Benjamin Schreer of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra did the country a favour on Monday by publishing a paper on it, and its implications.

6RTR, Perth, interviews ASPI's Sarah Norgrove

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Sarah Norgrove speaks to 6RTR in Perth about the US reengaging with Asia.

China battle plan raises nuclear fear

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A US military strategy being mapped out to deal with the growing power of China in the western Pacific - a plan that would inevitably ensnare Australia - could escalate into a nuclear war, experts warn. In a new paper, Benjamin Schreer of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says the fashionable ''AirSea Battle'' concept - which Washington strategists are developing to keep the US grip on its sea and air power near the Chinese mainland - contains ''uncertainties and potential shortfalls'' that could heighten the nuclear risk.

Is the ADF fighting climate change or just adapting?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Analysts from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) have recently published a special report on Climate and the Defence Force. To those concerned about human-caused climate change, this report could be viewed as a welcome turnaround.

Find boats before they arrive: Libs

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A fleet of unmanned long-range surveillance aircraft must be ordered urgently to locate asylum boats before they arrived at the mainland, says the Coalition.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst Andrew Davies said it was not surprising a boat would occasionally get through to the Australian mainland. "We've got 27.2 million square kilometres of ocean and the resources of 23 million people to try to police it," Dr Davies said.

Border protection review

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Gillard Government could be forced into a radical overhaul of its WA coastline surveillance after Tuesday’s embarrassing arrival of asylum seekers at Geraldton.

Andrew Davies, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said he was surprised more vessels did not arrive in WA undetected. “Australia has the largest maritime jurisdiction in the world,” he said. “Basically there’s a lot of ocean.”

Australia can do more against 'blood ivory' trade

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Anthony Bergin writes in this opinion piece that there needs to be better understanding of the development-conservation-security nexus.

Territory FM speaks with Andrew Davies on North Korea

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Andrew Davies, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, about the situation in North Korea and its relevance to Australia.

China response to US far from uniform

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) says an examination of actual commentary from Chinese sources reveals differing views on different aspects of US activity in the region. In the study, ASPI analysts Sarah Norgrove, Chris Louie and Mary Willett examined official Chinese commentary and media coverage of US activity in Asia from November 2011 to January 2013.

PM Gillard goes to China

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

PM Julia Gillard has left for a five-day visit to China where trade and business between Australia and China will dominate talks. Links in education, climate change and defence will also be discussed. Dr Andrew Davies from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says any new interaction with China is positive.

Extreme weather means extreme planning

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Climate change means the 'call us if you need us' approach no longer cuts it: army, police and emergency services need to prepare, writes Anthony Bergin in this opinion piece.

Military ties that bind us

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Peter Jennings writes about the benefits and expectations of Australia's drawing closer to the US in The Australian. Read his op ed here.

Time for a rapid response

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

AUSTRALIA'S climate responsiveness must be raised several notches -- and quickly -- if we are to meet the climate challenges of our region and remain competitive as a trading nation. These are the messages from reports released last week by two Australian think-tanks, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), and the Climate Institute of Australia.

Heavy Weather, a study by ASPI's deputy director Anthony Bergin, and Tony Press, head of the Tasmanian-based Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, warns that our defence forces urgently need new strategies to meet the challenge from climate changes already under way.

Military training to be chopped in budget

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The military faces hundred of millions of dollars worth of cuts to its spending on training as the government claws back the $1.5 billion that has supported operations in Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and East Timor in the May budget. Australian Strategic Policy Institute budget analyst Mark Thomson said Defence was facing a "double whammy".

"They are already losing funding because of budget cuts and now they're going to lose more when the extra money for training as part of operations goes," he said.

US alarm on marines

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

AS discussions continue on whether Australia will help the US share the cost of placing a fully equipped 2500-strong marines taskforce in Darwin, concern is growing that the Gillard government’s enthusiasm for the plan is cooling.

Peter Jennings, a former senior Defence official who now heads the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank, writes in The Australian today that senior US officials in Washington and in think tanks that focus on Asian security have been puzzled by a perceived cooling of Australian support for increased defence cooperation.

We shouldn't be marching to the beat of our new 'great and powerful friend'

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Terrill writes that Australia is too important to define itself in terms of one great power. Read his opinion piece here.

SBS World News speaks with Anthony Bergin, ASPI

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Defence Department has reiterated the effects of climate change is being considered in defence planning. The statement follows a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute which claims the Australian Defence Force is not prepared for the future challenges presented by climate change. Anthony Bergin, spokesperson for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says the 2009 Defence White Paper dismissed climate change as an issue for the future generation because it says there will be no strategic consequences before 2030. He says this is not true because we can already see the downstream implications of climate change in our region.

Marching home: after decade of war, end is in sight

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Defence Minister Stephen Smith told reporters on Tuesday morning that at least 1000 regular troops - of a force of about 1650 - would leave Afghanistan after the closure of Tarin Kowt multinational base in Uruzgan province. Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the fact that political talks with the Taliban were under way was a sign of military success.

The 'hardest thing in the world to get out'

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Most Diggers will be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2013. But the Australian government is keeping open the option of leaving some special forces for training and counterterrorism beyond the end of 2014.
Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul seemed bemused last week when it was put to him that Australian special forces might be doing counter-terrorism duties beyond 2014. His understanding was that Australians - if they stay - would only be training Afghans.
"The fact that the Foreign Minister didn’t recognise this doesn’t lend much hope to the thought that the Afghans are particularly focused on Australia;’ says Peter Jennings, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Fast-changing climate 'threat to Oz security'

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The changing climate will increase security threats to Australia, including the possible collapse of fragile states in the region and resource wars, a new report has warned.

Be ready for climate change, ADF told

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Australian Defence Force must pay much more attention to a future role dealing with the impact of climate change at home and in the region, a key think tank has warned.
Authors of the Heavy weather report, veteran climate scientist Anthony Press, ASPI deputy director Anthony Bergin and researcher Eliza Garnsey, say the ADF needs to work with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Climate Change to work out how to deal with climate change scenarios for Australia and the Asia-Pacific and to manage the risks to regional stability.

Climate to put Defence operations to the test

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Escalating climate change will have an impact on every aspect of Australian Defence Force operations, a report warns, with rising natural disasters and changes to the ''physical battle space'' affecting Defence's mission, facilities and strategic environment.
Increased floods, fires, storms and cyclones will keep the ADF busy throughout summer, the report says.
The warnings are spelt out in an ASPI paper by Anthony Bergin and Tony Press: Heavy Weather: Climate and the Australian Defence Force, released on Monday.

Smith considers two more warships

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Defence Minister Stephen Smith is considering spending up to $3 billion, including purchasing two19,500-tonne refuellers for the navy, to preserve 2500 naval shipbuilding jobs before the federal election.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute budget analyst Mark Thomson was critical of ad hoc planning in relation to naval shipbuilding. "Once again we see the prospect of political decisions being made to protect the industrial sector and the big end of town rather than considering what is in the best interests of defence," he said.

When die is cast for war, there can be no wavering

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It is wrong to criticise the silence of the public service on the Iraq war, writes Peter Jennings in this opinion piece.

Chemical bombing in Syria

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Wade Stephens presents a report discussing the chemical bombing in Syria. Australian Syrian Association representative Mohammad al-Hamwi predicts Assad is behind the bombing. Dr John Bruni, director of SAGE International, discusses the specifics of the bomb. Tobias Feakin, senior analyst in charge of national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says details around the weapon's launch indicate it could not have been launched by the rebels or the Opposition. Listen to the audio here.

South China Sea dispute a long time coming, but solutions are at hand

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Creative, constructive thinking shows the way to new patterns of behaviour, writes ASPI chairman Stephen Loosley. Read his opinion piece here.

The enduring importance of lines drawn in the sand

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

ASPI chairman Stephen Loosley reviews Robert D. Kaplan's recent book, The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate. Mr Kaplan spoke at an ASPI lunch last November. You can view his speech and a discussion here.

The hunt for folding stuff

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nicholas Stuart writes: "Replacing Australia’s submarine fleet will be no easy or cheap task. If you’re wondering why Australia’s new submarine project is important, think of the enormously expensive but supposedly transformative National Broadband Network. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute says the total cost of each project could be roughly the same about $36 billion. So that’s the first point. This will have extremely serious opportunity costs. Money spent on boats can’t be spent on anything else..."

Debate takes off over use of armed drones

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Australia lags the rest of the world in its use of drone technology, writes John Kerin.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute capability analyst Andrew Davies suggests most drones in use in the army are portable and either deployed from small launchers or from the hand with their primary purpose "being able to see over the next hill and reduce the risk to soldiers".

Democracy 101 will get us nowhere

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Richard Herr and Anthony Bergin question Foreign Minister Carr's democracy criteria set for Fiji in this opinion piece.

America must stand by Japan

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ross Terrill writes that US President Obama faces a test in East Asia given the high tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Read his opinion piece here.