Australia’s Defence Policy
November 12, 2008

RADIO 2CBA FOCAL POINT COMMENTARY

The Australian Government spends about $11 billion per year on defence – that is about $30 million per day. But are we getting value for money?

The Blue Paper Project , based in Sydney, is an initiative of various non-governmental organizations to generate discussion on the political and military role that Australia will play in the 21st Century, and of the defence philosophy and policy adopted by the Government.

The “Blue Paper” title is a play on words. The Australian Government – following the example of the British Government – issues White Papers which are statements of policy (in the old days, they were published on white-coloured paper). A Green Paper (which in the UK is actually published on green-coloured paper) is simply a discussion paper published by the Government to gauge public attitudes on a matter. In due course, the ideas in a Green Paper become the basis of the White Paper.

The problem with Australia’s defence policy is that by tradition there has been very little public debate of it. The Blue Paper Project is a way of stimulating the debate – and encouraging Australian Governments to accept the need for more public debate on defence.

The Australian Government has been working on a new White Paper on defence. Early indications are that the Government will try to increase the defence expenditure.

There is obviously a need for public debate on defence expenditure. The Australian Defence Force did very well in East Timor. But too often there is an attitude that “peacekeeping is not proper soldiering ” – it is the sort of activity carried out until a “real” war comes a long.

In fact, peacekeeping operations and low intensity warfare are the real forms of warfare that the Australian Defence Force will need to carry out in the future.

Therefore, does Australia really need all the heavy capital expenditure to which so much money is allocated? That policy is good news for the arms manufacturers but is it really what the Australian Defence Force requires in an East Timor type peacekeeping operation?

Therefore, it is important that the Australian Government make its Green Paper widely available and that there be adequate public discussion of it. The Blue Paper Project is playing an important role in encouraging more public debate of Australian defence policy

In World War I, it was said that warfare is too important to be left to the generals. That is still the case.