This paper highlights that the national security risks faced now are in Australia's region. It proposes a clear focus on the defence of Australia and its northern approaches. The paper also addresses the critical nature of Australia's relationship with the USA. It provides six recommendations.

Contending that Australia is unprepared in facing its most challenging security environment since the Second World War, this paper's key recommendation is to increase defence expenditure from 2% to 3% of GDP. Other recommendations bolster the case for how a government could dramatically lift defence spending and see quick and positive increases in military capability.

This paper argues that urgent reform of the defence sector is needed in order for the Australian Defence Force to meet the challenges of a deteriorating strategic environment. It calls for reform of Defence's procurement systems to reduce Australia's dependence on large, foreign-owned contractors and invest in a more varied, local and responsive supply chain.

Australia's strategy for developing its defence workforce over the next decade aims to overcome recruitment and retention challenges to stabilise and grow the Australian Defence Force. Success will require significant investment in training and recruitment and retention initiatives as well as improvements to organisational culture and mental health support.

The review considers the basis by which the office of the Inspector‐General of the Australian Defence (IGADF) Force was established and makes findings and recommendations about its functions, operation and composition. It calls for the IGADF to realign its mission to become a better fit for a changed Defence organisational structure and meet higher community...