We need to stop outsourcing our defence future to the US
With rising global threats and shifting alliances, Australia needs to invest in its own defence industry — and unlock the economic gains that come with it.
The US is demanding that all its allies pick up more of the joint cost of defence — and that doesn’t seem like an unfair ask. In a world where NATO members are concerned enough about global security to commit to a 5% target, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth requested that Australia increase spending to 3.5% of GDP at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
There have been mixed messages in response. Initially, Minister for Defence Richard Marles suggested the government is willing to have a "conversation" about lifting expenditure, only for the prime minister to roll it back earlier this week, insisting that Australia will "determine our defence policy".
With a decisive majority, the Albanese government has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right. We can’t keep our heads buried in the sand, and we need to have some hard conversations about how we spend on defence. Otherwise, we face a future with potentially grave consequences for years of indecision.
The reality is that the uplift in defence spending is not just necessary to placate our most important ally, it’s a strategic imperative given the current geopolitical landscape.
