Overview: Maritime security cooperation between Australia and Indonesia is important because of our geographical proximity and common interests. With recently-installed President Joko Widodo proclaiming Indonesia as the ‘World Maritime Axis’, there’s great momentum for Australia and Indonesia to enhance maritime security cooperation. This paper looks at ways to enhance cooperation through: more interaction between policymakers...

This report provides a broad assessment of the current status of the Australian Antarctic Programme and the challenges to maintaining and expanding Australia’s well-regarded status in Antarctic science, operations and diplomacy. Development of the report involved extensive stakeholder and community engagement. It makes 35 recommendations of action required to pursue Australia’s national Antarctic interests over...

This inquiry examined the adequacy of the Australian and Queensland Governments’ efforts to stop the rapid decline of the Great Barrier Reef. Terms of reference On 25 March 2014, the Senate referred the following matter to the Environment and Communications References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 25 June 2014: The adequacy of...

The Australian Army's primary operational environment is becoming increasingly littoral (bordering water) and urbanised. Overview As we leave Afghanistan, the urban littoral will rise in importance simply because Australia’s primary operational environment (POE) is overwhelmingly littoral and increasingly urbanised. But we no longer face the littoral of which Ralph Peters or Charles Krulak wrote in...

This Quick Guide provides an overview of the Australian naval shipbuilding industry since the 2013 federal election. Specifically, three key questions are addressed: What is the current status of naval shipbuilding and sustainment within Australia? What are the positions of Australian political parties and independents regarding naval shipbuilding? What is likely to be done in...