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.

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.

This report brings together 14 maritime-focused articles highlighting Northern Australia’s pivotal role – and particularly Darwin’s emerging position – as a base for maritime power projection, an Indo-Pacific sustainment hub, and a focal point for regional cooperation and defence investment.

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.

As part of a series looking at what needs to be done to strengthen Australia’s defence, this paper notes the vulnerabilities of Australia's military that will affect its ability to sustain operations during a conflict involving major powers in the region. It makes six recommendations.