Family First agrees that defence spending must be increased, a missile defence system must be put in place and young people must be taught to love their country so they will be ready to fight for it should the need arise.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has issued a stark warning that allied nations, including Australia, must urgently increase their defence budgets and military preparedness due to the “enormous peril” of our times.

Speaking during a meeting of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue in Washington, Campbell emphasised, “We need short-term stocks of critical ordnance. We need more shipbuilding across the alliance,” underscoring the need for immediate and substantial investment in defence capabilities. His comments reflect the heightened strategic threats posed by China's increased cooperation with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and the pressing need for allied nations to bolster their military readiness.

Campbell’s remarks highlight Australia’s critical inability to defend itself independently, a failure attributed to both Liberal and Labor governments. This issue has been a growing concern among defence experts and former officials.

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley’s assessment, made a few months ago at The Australian’s Defending Australia summit, brings this issue into sharp focus: “We could not defend ourselves now without the Americans. When I was defence minister, absolutely we could defend ourselves.”

This stark comparison underscores a significant decline in our military self-reliance over recent decades from the time he served in the Hawke and Keating governments.

Defence Minister Richard Marles, in his keynote speech at the same summit, emphasised the necessity of AUKUS, highlighting China's ambitions to reshape global dynamics and challenging principles such as freedom of navigation.

He stated, “We face... the most threatening strategic circumstance since the end of World War II.”

This sentiment is echoed by former Defence Department head Dennis Richardson, who warned of the lack of consensus on defence across the political spectrum. Richardson’s critique, delivered at the summit, reveals a critical flaw: the absence of a unified and honest approach to defence spending necessary to actualise initiatives like AUKUS.

Adding to the urgency, Professor Paul Dibb, a pivotal figure in Australia's defence policy, pointed out that our defence force is inadequate for wartime conditions, describing it as a “very professional... peacetime defence force” at the same summit. This professional yet peacetime-oriented force is insufficient given the current global instability.

Alarmingly, recent reports indicate that missiles from China can reach two-thirds of Australia, and we currently have no missile defence system to counter such threats. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for a robust and comprehensive defence strategy. As highlighted in the report, "China's missile strikes could reach two-thirds of Australia," posing a significant threat to our national security.

The issue is compounded by political decisions impacting the workforce needed for defence initiatives.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas highlighted the risk posed by competition between federal Labor and the Coalition to reduce immigration rates.

Australia needs a significant influx of skilled workers to build nuclear submarines, with Malinauskas stressing the need to “double the size of its defence industry workforce to at least 30,000.”

The international perspective underscores the gravity of the situation.

Kurt Campbell pointed out China's strategic ambitions in the South Pacific, including potential military bases, posing a direct threat to regional security.

His remarks stress the importance of the AUKUS agreement and the urgent need for enhanced defence capabilities, stating, “We need short-term stocks of critical ordnance. We need more shipbuilding across the alliance.”

Another critical issue is whether Australia’s young people, educated in a system that often portrays the nation as illegitimate due to colonisation, would care enough about their country to defend it.

This cultural challenge adds another layer of complexity to our defence crisis, questioning the willingness of future generations to engage in national defence.

Australia’s defence crisis is a consequence of bipartisan failures, lacking strategic foresight and unified commitment.

The insights from defence experts and international allies highlight the urgent need for a cohesive, well-funded, and forward-looking defence strategy.

Both Liberal and Labor governments must prioritise Australia’s defence capabilities to safeguard our nation in an increasingly volatile world.

Family First agrees that defence spending must be increased, a missile defence system must be put in place and young people must be taught to love their country so they will be ready to fight for it should the need arise.