In 10 weeks Stephen Smith and Angus Houston have the chance to dramatically change the shape of the Australian Defence Force. Defence Minister Richard Marles already has the first cut of their Defence Strategic Review, due in March 2023.
Through the pages of this newspaper we have seen a few hints – let’s call them authorised disclosures rather than leaks – pointing to a redesigned ADF.
Change can’t come soon enough. China’s aggressive plans to dominate security in the Indo-Pacific and the cauldron of warfare in Ukraine show the need for a radical rethink of ADF structure – if Defence is truly going to fulfil its mission to “shape, deter and respond” to regional events.
