Australia’s 2026–27 Defence Budget commits the Commonwealth to spending approximately $181.9 million on defence every day. This report examines the Australian Government’s progress with, and spending on, the 2026 National Defence Strategy and the updated Integrated Investment Program. The series has, year after year, assessed what governments said they would do against what the books...

A compendium of analytical perspectives examining why the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is so critical to Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity. The essays explore Taiwan’s economic centrality, its democratic identity and the strategic dynamics that shape its future. They also provide a framework for thinking about deterrence, resilience and preparedness.

This report addresses the increasing strategic risks and geopolitical tensions surrounding the Taiwan Strait, which have direct and significant implications for Australia’s national security, economic stability and social cohesion. The Taiwan Strait is no longer a remote concern; it sits at the heart of Australia’s strategic conversations about its future in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia's security challenges cannot be borne by the Department of Defence and armed forces alone. Australian governments have failed to deliver a comprehensive approach to national security. This report examines the government’s national security spending as a whole and reviews the attention given to the nation’s preparedness and resilience. It provides eight recommendations.

Australia faces increasing threats from natural disasters, pandemics and geopolitical tensions, necessitating robust preparedness mechanisms. This report recommends a road map of immediate, near-term and longer-term initiatives that the Australian Government should embrace. The report outlines building an effective national preparedness system, and the capabilities and capacities needed for it, using Finland as an exemplar.