KEY POINTS FROM THE DEFENCE STRATEGIC REVIEW
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* Australia's defence force is not fit-for-purpose.
* The risks of military escalation and conflict in the region are rising.
* Australia can no longer rely on a long warning time ahead of an attack, which includes cyber and economic coercion and related threats.
THREATS
* China's military build-up and the loss of the United States as the unipolar power in the Indo-Pacific.
* Reduced warning time for conflicts.
* Grey zone actions that fall short of warfare, such as cyber and economic coercion.
* Effects of climate change.
* Workforce retention and build-up challenges.
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE'S FIVE JOBS
* Defend Australia and the immediate region.
* Deter an enemy attack.
* Protect economic connections such as trade routes.
* Contribute to collective security through partnerships in the region.
* Maintaining the global rules-based order.
MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS
* Boost long-range missiles and onshore ammunition manufacturing.
* Equip fighter jets with long-range, anti-ship missiles.
* Invest in conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
* Enhanced navy lethality.
* Air force needs to be able to conduct surveillance, air defence, strike and air transport.
* Continual domestic shipbuilding capability.
* Improve defence's ability to operate more effectively from Australia's northern bases.
* Invest in workforce expansion and retention.
* Deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including through ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum.
PROGRAM CUTS
* Infantry fighting vehicles cut from 450 to 129.
* Cancelling second tranche of self-propelled howitzer artillery.
* Puckapunyal combined arms museum.
* RAAF Williams Point Cook redevelopment and relocation of units from Laverton.
* RAAF Williams Laverton redevelopment.
BUDGET
* $19 billion cost of prioritising key priority areas over four years, including the $6 billion offset through changing to the nuclear-powered submarine program under AUKUS.
* It includes $7.8 billion in savings through project reallocations over four years.
* The remainder is through existing budget allocations.
WHAT'S NEXT
* Inaugural national defence strategy developed in 2024 and updated every two years.
* Review of navy's combat fleet to be conducted in late 2024.
* List of options of guided weapons and explosives to be handed to government by mid-2024.
Australian Associated Press
