It would be really good to see Australia grow up and stand as an independent nation, instead of just swapping the UK for the US. We have seen glimpses of the progressive and diplomatic actions we are capable of, we need to see more of it.
I agree with your statement in how it relates specifically to the ALP under Albanese. My point about the complacency is in application to the broader elites in the higher reaches that the public service, especially in Defence. Of course, it can be extended further to business elites as well, which include the corporate media you refer to.
Absolutely agree with you and all these elites influence Australin policy to a great extent, as do many businesses, not just through lobbying. Look at the influence PWC, WC and their ilk have.
We do need to control our shipping routes, as a great export nation, but the question is, are submarines the best way to exert that control? The case has not been made publicly.
I think we should ditch the US Virginia end of AUKUS and focus on building the UK Astute subs here.
We can step up our industrial capabilities here, which would benefit our strategic independence.
Xi knows if he gave in to the hawks in the Chinese military and invaded Taiwan the consequences for China would be devastating for its exports and industries, so Xi has purged the top military to keep them under control.
Keating is right - Australia's fundamental geographical interests are in Asia and the Pacific - but our economic and democratic interests are broader. We should also align with Europe, which is a huge market and genuinely democratic.
Canada and Australia have a lot in common. It could be a really productive relationship, at a time when American democracy is failing.
Brilliantly well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Thank you for this important post . I wonder whatever happened to common sense with this government ? The catastrophe of AUKUS should be seen as embarrassing if it had been suggested by an alert five year old 🙄. Do they have no concern at all for the sovereignty and welfare of the people of this nation ? I suspect the time has passed for Australia to be dragged into America’s wars , especially with Caligula in charge ……
Thank you for this analysis which accurately describes what I am unable to put into words. But have now managed to make a lengthy list of my views.
I migrated to Australia from South Africa circa 2001 just as 9/11, WMD, Iraq and little sheriff's sidekick caricature ensued. In researching my future home it was clear that Australia was "in Asia" and I totally missed the relevance and importance of the American relationship. So I was taken aback as my newly adopted peace loving homeland blindly and willingly fulfilled a promise to send soldiers to Iraq.
On Australian defence.
- Submarines are no deterrent. Aus does not have enough of them. The Collins class subs never have enough active at any one time let alone in total. Aus will never get enough Aukus subs in any era. China has 61 subs against Aus' six.
- Readiness to fire. Did Aus subs deter the recent Chinese flotilla that circumnavigated Aus recently? Would Aus have fired on them if they fired on us? Will Aus jets fire on the pesky Chinese jets imposing on Aus aircraft safety zone? No of course not we are not at war.
- Aukus is a tribute to the US for the alliance. Over a billion already paid. Apparently a knowledge building task force stationed in the US. I think that the US will not relinquish control of its nuclear technology (irrespective of the Aus nuclear issues) and the US demand under and post the Trump era will not allow them to release a sub for Aus (anyway what will we do with one when we need lots of them).
- Aus manufacturing. Aukus manufacturing won't happen. Aus would have been better off building manufacturing capability with French or Japanese subs.
- Aus could assess and look to Ukraine for guidance in building a robotic/drone defence capability. Drones have changed warfare, but it is not the total future. Nevertheless, lots of cheaper drones may be more suitable for defending Aus' vast distances.
- It us not clear to me how Aus has valued Pine Gap (defence and space), Darwin bases and other support in the US relationship and Aukus specifically. I guess secret men's business that Moriarty won't tell.
- In the end Aus remains a tadpole compared to the giant toads. Which I guess is the original reason for the US alliance.
- Sounds to me like Whitlam, Cairns and Keating were forward looking leaders.
- I am sure Aus does not have to switch allegiance overnight. But I am sure that Aus could stand up and lead a wider more coherent Asian strategy with the middle power nations. The foresight, will and leadership are lacking.
- I guess that Aus joining Brics would not be acceptable to the US, especially with its aim of establishing an alternative global payment system and currency.
On domestic resilience.
- Repeating. The foresight, will and leadership are lacking - in business and government. What is the plan to develop resiliency if any?
- While companies chase profits and executive bonuses they will not invest in developing capability. In the 2010s an Australian icon closed 3 of 4 cement plants to import cement and with its fellow consortium members started importing bitumen directly rather than importing crude and processing it in Aus. All because it was much cheaper despite the supply chain risks.
- NSW govt have destroyed the Tafe system (I have attended recently for a certificate course) and the private sector education providers take profit over quality.
- Consequently it is cheaper to import skilled labour to satisfy industry demand but that does not build capability overall. Which starts another couple of threads.
- I am hopeful that government (the civil service) does indeed look at Aus' resilience. Take oil for example, it seems that Aus has 22 day coverage for diesel. If the supply chain to Asia is disrupted then I guess Aus stops because the trucks will have stopped. Note fuel is a difficult area to analyse but there is plenty of info on government and industry sites. https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-data/australian-petroleum-statistics
- 2 flat whites please. Hold the palm tree pattern.
All in all the Albanese labor government with its significant majority and likely another 2 terms, is too timid, kowtows to foreign influence, lacks real leadership, has forgotten its roots as a labour and social party, and is missing great opportunity for nation building legislation.
Carney decided to wake up after a genocide in Gaza, after the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president, after the mayhem in Syria, Yemen,Lebanon and Iran.
However he wakes up when it's Greenland.
The one thing that leaders need to look at wherever they are is tackling racism, tackling resource theft, land theft as well as foreign intervention in countries that are not theirs.
Just one aspect of a bigger problem as in AUKUS still begs the question whether leaders are governing the people that truling voted them in, or is it still okay for mining companies to extract resources from foreign lands. Is it okay for governments to not be honest and let dishonesty destroy lives here and in foreign lands. Is it okay for governments to leave many struggling to find jobs, to pay mortgages, to be in forever debt just because they decided to study (HECS).
The issue is far far bigger than just AUKUS. Hopefully a future generation will tackle the bigger issues in Australia today. It all starts with listening, humbleness, learning, willing to change.
Here's for a better Australia that is really fair and equal.
Time for Australia to take a truly independent course. By all means remain on friendly terms with both the USA and China. But need a porcupine/echidna defence strategy with a multitude of drones and missiles to keep a potential unidentified aggressor at bay.
In addition we need to recreate our on maritime fleet and the means to protect those ships should the need arise. Yes, I know if you speak to an economist it is not in our competitive advantage to do so. But in my mind security trumps economics.
I also favour universal conscription in the style of Switzerland and the Nordic countries for all sexes. No exceptions no excuses the only out being service in emergency services (eg SES/CFS) at a lower pay rate than military services.
It would be really good to see Australia grow up and stand as an independent nation, instead of just swapping the UK for the US. We have seen glimpses of the progressive and diplomatic actions we are capable of, we need to see more of it.
Well said, David.
I think it’s no exaggeration to say that to continue on this course would be the greatest strategic failure of policy in Australian history.
As a nation, we continue to be extremely poorly served by the current crop of incompetent political elites and their arrogant complacency
I don't think it's complacency so much as fear of upsetting the US and MSM.
Labor is constantly attacked by MSM and I think has made Albanese particularly wary of upsetting them.
I am concerned that Australia always follows the US, even when it's not in our best interests.
Thanks Jenny.
I agree with your statement in how it relates specifically to the ALP under Albanese. My point about the complacency is in application to the broader elites in the higher reaches that the public service, especially in Defence. Of course, it can be extended further to business elites as well, which include the corporate media you refer to.
Absolutely agree with you and all these elites influence Australin policy to a great extent, as do many businesses, not just through lobbying. Look at the influence PWC, WC and their ilk have.
Spot on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 The Augean stables need a good cleanout .
We do need to control our shipping routes, as a great export nation, but the question is, are submarines the best way to exert that control? The case has not been made publicly.
I think we should ditch the US Virginia end of AUKUS and focus on building the UK Astute subs here.
We can step up our industrial capabilities here, which would benefit our strategic independence.
Xi knows if he gave in to the hawks in the Chinese military and invaded Taiwan the consequences for China would be devastating for its exports and industries, so Xi has purged the top military to keep them under control.
Keating is right - Australia's fundamental geographical interests are in Asia and the Pacific - but our economic and democratic interests are broader. We should also align with Europe, which is a huge market and genuinely democratic.
Canada and Australia have a lot in common. It could be a really productive relationship, at a time when American democracy is failing.
Brilliantly well said 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Thank you for this important post . I wonder whatever happened to common sense with this government ? The catastrophe of AUKUS should be seen as embarrassing if it had been suggested by an alert five year old 🙄. Do they have no concern at all for the sovereignty and welfare of the people of this nation ? I suspect the time has passed for Australia to be dragged into America’s wars , especially with Caligula in charge ……
Thank you for this analysis which accurately describes what I am unable to put into words. But have now managed to make a lengthy list of my views.
I migrated to Australia from South Africa circa 2001 just as 9/11, WMD, Iraq and little sheriff's sidekick caricature ensued. In researching my future home it was clear that Australia was "in Asia" and I totally missed the relevance and importance of the American relationship. So I was taken aback as my newly adopted peace loving homeland blindly and willingly fulfilled a promise to send soldiers to Iraq.
On Australian defence.
- Submarines are no deterrent. Aus does not have enough of them. The Collins class subs never have enough active at any one time let alone in total. Aus will never get enough Aukus subs in any era. China has 61 subs against Aus' six.
- Readiness to fire. Did Aus subs deter the recent Chinese flotilla that circumnavigated Aus recently? Would Aus have fired on them if they fired on us? Will Aus jets fire on the pesky Chinese jets imposing on Aus aircraft safety zone? No of course not we are not at war.
- Aukus is a tribute to the US for the alliance. Over a billion already paid. Apparently a knowledge building task force stationed in the US. I think that the US will not relinquish control of its nuclear technology (irrespective of the Aus nuclear issues) and the US demand under and post the Trump era will not allow them to release a sub for Aus (anyway what will we do with one when we need lots of them).
- Aus manufacturing. Aukus manufacturing won't happen. Aus would have been better off building manufacturing capability with French or Japanese subs.
- Aus could assess and look to Ukraine for guidance in building a robotic/drone defence capability. Drones have changed warfare, but it is not the total future. Nevertheless, lots of cheaper drones may be more suitable for defending Aus' vast distances.
- It us not clear to me how Aus has valued Pine Gap (defence and space), Darwin bases and other support in the US relationship and Aukus specifically. I guess secret men's business that Moriarty won't tell.
- In the end Aus remains a tadpole compared to the giant toads. Which I guess is the original reason for the US alliance.
https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php
https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=australia&country2=china
On Asia.
- As the rules based order is destroyed by Trump and Putin, Australia must look to Asia. The ALP are scared witless and as pointed out inaction seems better than action. Hopefully the government are not still talking about Carney's speech. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/22/mark-carney-canada-denunciation-trump-australia-jim-chalmers
- Sounds to me like Whitlam, Cairns and Keating were forward looking leaders.
- I am sure Aus does not have to switch allegiance overnight. But I am sure that Aus could stand up and lead a wider more coherent Asian strategy with the middle power nations. The foresight, will and leadership are lacking.
- I guess that Aus joining Brics would not be acceptable to the US, especially with its aim of establishing an alternative global payment system and currency.
On domestic resilience.
- Repeating. The foresight, will and leadership are lacking - in business and government. What is the plan to develop resiliency if any?
- While companies chase profits and executive bonuses they will not invest in developing capability. In the 2010s an Australian icon closed 3 of 4 cement plants to import cement and with its fellow consortium members started importing bitumen directly rather than importing crude and processing it in Aus. All because it was much cheaper despite the supply chain risks.
- NSW govt have destroyed the Tafe system (I have attended recently for a certificate course) and the private sector education providers take profit over quality.
- Consequently it is cheaper to import skilled labour to satisfy industry demand but that does not build capability overall. Which starts another couple of threads.
- I am hopeful that government (the civil service) does indeed look at Aus' resilience. Take oil for example, it seems that Aus has 22 day coverage for diesel. If the supply chain to Asia is disrupted then I guess Aus stops because the trucks will have stopped. Note fuel is a difficult area to analyse but there is plenty of info on government and industry sites. https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-data/australian-petroleum-statistics
- 2 flat whites please. Hold the palm tree pattern.
All in all the Albanese labor government with its significant majority and likely another 2 terms, is too timid, kowtows to foreign influence, lacks real leadership, has forgotten its roots as a labour and social party, and is missing great opportunity for nation building legislation.
Carney decided to wake up after a genocide in Gaza, after the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president, after the mayhem in Syria, Yemen,Lebanon and Iran.
However he wakes up when it's Greenland.
The one thing that leaders need to look at wherever they are is tackling racism, tackling resource theft, land theft as well as foreign intervention in countries that are not theirs.
Just one aspect of a bigger problem as in AUKUS still begs the question whether leaders are governing the people that truling voted them in, or is it still okay for mining companies to extract resources from foreign lands. Is it okay for governments to not be honest and let dishonesty destroy lives here and in foreign lands. Is it okay for governments to leave many struggling to find jobs, to pay mortgages, to be in forever debt just because they decided to study (HECS).
The issue is far far bigger than just AUKUS. Hopefully a future generation will tackle the bigger issues in Australia today. It all starts with listening, humbleness, learning, willing to change.
Here's for a better Australia that is really fair and equal.
Time for Australia to take a truly independent course. By all means remain on friendly terms with both the USA and China. But need a porcupine/echidna defence strategy with a multitude of drones and missiles to keep a potential unidentified aggressor at bay.
In addition we need to recreate our on maritime fleet and the means to protect those ships should the need arise. Yes, I know if you speak to an economist it is not in our competitive advantage to do so. But in my mind security trumps economics.
I also favour universal conscription in the style of Switzerland and the Nordic countries for all sexes. No exceptions no excuses the only out being service in emergency services (eg SES/CFS) at a lower pay rate than military services.
A different view of the world order.
Albanese rates a dishonourable mention.
https://open.substack.com/pub/chrishedges/p/is-the-new-world-order-really-new?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3r6xs7