Northern Australia has become Australia’s principal strategic operating base. This report introduces the Preparedness, Resilience and Redundancy scorecard. The scorecard provides policymakers, defence planners and industry with a decision-support framework to identify systemic vulnerabilities, prioritise investment and strengthen Australia’s ability to sustain military operations under pressure.

This compendium brings together articles published over the past six months, examining the strategic, economic and policy challenges shaping northern Australia’s future. They examine how northern Australia is increasingly central to Australia’s strategic posture, economic resilience and long-term national preparedness. The articles are authored by experts across national security, economic policy, infrastructure, regional development and...

A curated selection of analysis exploring the growing strategic importance of critical minerals, supply chains and industrial capability. A central theme is the role of northern Australia, particularly Darwin, as a strategic platform where energy, infrastructure, logistics and defence posture converge. It examines how Australia and its partners can move from systemic exposure to enduring...

Northern Australia sits at the centre of Australia’s defence strategy. Defence activity in the north is increasingly tied to regional economic stability, infrastructure development and the growth of defence-supporting industries. Yet Australia’s northern defence posture has moved through cycles of attention and neglect. This report introduces a new conceptual framework to close that gap.

Northern Australia is central to the nation’s future. This report reframes northern Australia as a developing economy within a developed nation. Drawing on a detailed analysis of the Northern Territory and extending to northern Queensland and northern Western Australia, the report presents a comprehensive, evidence-based argument for nation-building through targeted investment.