Rethinking the Future of Australian Defence Industry Policy

Building the Australian defence industry is critical for our national security in a geopolitically contested era. But our current paradigm for defence industry was built in a different era, and needs to be updated to reflect our contemporary environment.
This report examines how Australia should reframe defence industry policy by drawing lessons from five peer countries: Sweden, France, the UK, Israel and Canada.
While facing different strategic circumstances, their experiences illustrate how the possession of an independent but internationally linked defence industry is itself an asset during a period where the risk of major conflict is rising.
Their experiences offer pertinent lessons for Australia. This report identifies several factors that shape effective policy, argues that a fundamental rethink of Australian defence policy is required, and offers five recommendations.
SPEAKERS:
Innes Willox, CEO, Australian Industry Group
Professor Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor, ANU
Kate Louis, Executive Director, Defence Council, Australian Industry Group
Professor Stephan Frühling, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU
Chaired by Professor Helen Sullivan, Dean, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific.