This week’s Chinese navy live-fire exercise in the Tasman Sea was to Anthony Albanese what the Chinese spy balloon was to Joe Biden.

In 2023 a sophisticated high-altitude surveillance balloon flew undetected into US airspace and then most of the way across the continent before eventually being shot down.

Just as the US was caught with its pants down, so too was the Albanese Government by Chinese naval force being projected so close to home.

A Virgin pilot first raised the alarm followed by a New Zealand frigate.

There are big questions as to why Australian maritime patrol aircraft and naval vessels were not able to monitor the Chinese Communist Party’s three warships.

Australia’s woeful defence capability was on display as the CCP flexed its muscles at us.

The ships, and possibly a nuclear-powered submarine, are now in the Great Australian Bite heading towards our naval facilities at HMAS Stirling in Perth, where there is a visiting US nuclear powered submarine is docked.

It would not take much for a Chinese blockade of our sea lanes to cripple Australia given we have no onshore fuel reserves or refining capacity.

Family First is calling for a big increase in defence spending to at least three per cent of GDP from its current woeful 1.9pc.

It is clear Australia has no meaningful naval deterrent and with the Aukus submarines still decades away, urgent defence spending on ships, missiles and drones is needed.