Australia's
Strategic Policy

MIN 160/97

Tuesday, 2 December, 1997

AUSTRALIA'S STRATEGIC POLICY

I have today presented to Parliament the key findings of the recently completed strategic review, Australia's Strategic Policy, as well as a number of key capability decisions which the Government has made in light of the review.

Australia's Strategic Policy establishes the future direction for Australian defence planning into the 21st century. It is the key policy document in the Government's efforts to ensure that Australia has a modern, relevant military able to undertake successfully the range of challenging tasks that could be required of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the years ahead.

I commissioned the review because the Government wanted a frank and unambiguous assessment of the developments that are shaping Australia's strategic environment, in order to identify the trends against which decisions could be made on ADF capabilities to 2020 and beyond.

Australia's Strategic Policy builds on the Government's White Paper on Foreign and Trade Policy - In the National Interest - and indeed, takes as its basis the regional security environment as characterised in the White Paper, developing the implications of that analysis for strategic policy.

Australia's Strategic Policy identifies two major factors shaping Australia's strategic environment, namely economic growth in East Asia, and particularly its implications for regional arms modernisation programs, and the changing strategic relativities between the region's major powers.

I would emphasise again that Australia's strategic policy is not directed towards any particular threat or country. Nor does it attempt to predict circumstances in which Australia might be threatened or would need to commit the ADF.

Rather, Australia's Strategic Policy builds on our understanding of the enduring fundamentals of Australia's strategic environment and the key long-term trends that are likely to affect those fundamentals.

The review identifies our key strategic interests as follows:

avoiding de-stabilising strategic competition between the region's major powers;
preventing the emergence of a security environment dominated by any power or powers whose interests could be harmful to Australia;
keeping South-East Asia, especially maritime South-East Asia, free from destabilising disputes;
preventing the intrusion into neighbouring states of foreign military forces which might be used to attack Australia; and
preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction into our immediate region.

We consider that there are three basic tasks which the ADF could be required to perform:

defeating attacks on Australia;
defending our regional interests; and
supporting a global security environment which discourages interstate aggression.

I made clear in my Parliamentary statement that having the capabilities to defeat attacks on Australia is the highest priority. But the defence of Australia doesn't begin at our shoreline. Indeed, our strategic geography dictates that we should plan on more pro-active operations which focus on defeating attacks in our maritime and air approaches before they reach Australian territory.

Moreover, Australia's future security and prosperity is increasingly dependent on that of the wider Asia-Pacific region. To that end, Australia will work hard to maintain regional stability through bilateral and multilateral dialogue and diplomacy, and regional defence cooperation.

But we should not rule out the possibility that circumstances might arise in which the Government would want to make a significant contribution to a future conflict in which Australia's interests were vitally engaged.

That doesn't mean a return to 'forward defence'. Rather, it is about being prepared to contribute actively to our objective of 'a secure Australia in a secure region'.

In my statement, I outlined four priority areas for the future development of ADF capabilities, which are:

the knowledge edge, that is, the effective exploitation of information technologies to allow Australia to use our relatively small forces to maximum effectiveness;
developing military capabilities to defeat any future threats in our maritime and air approaches;
maintaining an effective ADF strike capability, that is, the ability to operate pro-actively against hostile forces in the defence of Australia and our interests; and
developing capabilities to defeat threats on Australian territory.

As the first step in meeting those priorities, I announced that the Government has approved a number of major equipment purchases with a total value of around $5 billion. Consistent with the Defence Efficiency Review, the focus of investment is our combat forces.

To ensure the ADF could defeat any future threats in our maritime and air approaches, we will upgrade our six guided missile frigates with new sensors, weapons and defensive systems. We will also buy advanced anti-surface missiles for our aircraft.

To maintain a capable strike force, we will buy the spares and test equipment needed to keep the ADF's F-111 aircraft operating into the future. And we will upgrade the F-111G aircraft to expand the size of our operational fleet.

The effectiveness of the Army will also be increased with the purchase of more Australian-sourced light armoured vehicles.

And to ensure that our combat forces can be used most effectively, the Government has approved important developments in the areas of surveillance and command and control.

Australia will buy up to seven airborne early warning and control aircraft. These can monitor the approaches to Australia and improve air defence by controlling fighters in combat. Communications systems will be enhanced through the acquisition of a new satellite based communications capability. Also, additional computerised support systems will be introduced for our commanders.

In summary, the acquisitions approved by Government will ensure that Australia's forces are well equipped and highly capable. We will stay focused on acquiring state-of-the-art equipment for our highly-skilled personnel, and in so doing will provide Australia with a highly-effective and efficient Defence Force.

I trust that Australia's Strategic Policy gives all Australians a better understanding of the challenges we face as we approach the 21st century.

Certainly, I am confident that the report I have tabled today will provide reassurance that the Government is putting in place a strategic approach to ensure that Australia and the Australian Defence Force are well-equipped to face those challenges successfully and to ensure that Australia indeed remains 'a secure country in a secure region'.

Further information:
Jim Bonner (Minister's Office) Ph (02) 62777800 or 0419 438490
Colonel Andrew Reynolds (Dept of Defence) Ph (02) 62652929 or 0419 292455

FOR TELEVISION NETWORKS: BETACAM SP VISION OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS MENTIONED IN THE REVIEW WILL BE HANDED OUT AT THE MEDIA CONFERENCE

FOR PRINT MEDIA: DIGITISED PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT MENTIONED IN AUSTRALIA'S STRATEGIC POLICY IS AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.defence.gov.au/dodhmpgn.html AND LINKED MINISTERIAL AND NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE HOME PAGES.

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