A spectrum of potentially existential matters face the nation and the world: concerning great power contestation, the environment and governance. These range from environmental challenges, political economic and human security concerns, cyber security issues and a range of maritime, territorial and homeland security problems, including a prospect of a major war. Yet Australia is ill-prepared for the likely consequences, with limited sovereign capacity to respond appropriately.

This paper critically reflects on the circumstances Australia and its neighbours face through the prism of a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, focusing on Australia’s internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as its external opportunities and threats.