Australia’s Defence Strategy Exposed — Are We Ready?
4/17/202650 min
Australia has released its latest defence strategy — but serious questions remain.In this episode, Karl sits down with former Defence Minister Mike Kelly and one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, Brigadier Ian Langford to break down what the plan gets right — and where it falls short.The world is rearming. Conflict is evolving fast.But Australia’s response is being challenged on speed, scale and urgency.This conversation covers:Why the new defence strategy may not match the current threatThe reality of modern warfare — drones, cyber and asymmetric attacksThe growing gap between long-term planning and immediate capabilityWhy Australian defence and innovation talent is being forced overseasThe lack of local investment — and what it means for national securityWhether AUKUS is coming at the cost of today’s military capability“Invariably what happens is these companies have to go to the US or Europe to be solvent.”Australia has the talent.The question is why we’re not backing it here.Thank you to R5 for giving me the energy to train. Try it with me at https://revive5.com.au/karl and use the code Karlos for 20% off.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKarl Stefanovic· Host0:00
Welcome to the Karl Stefanovic Show. It's great to have your company. Our guests today Someone who has served his nation in the Defense Force and in this parliament ... Colonel Mike Kelly Serving in Bosnia, East Timor, and Iraq ... former Minister for Defense Material and retired Army Colonel You have to go out and take risks, put up with failure, and exploit failure, because people learn from it ... and Brigadier Ian Langford The military is one of those institutions that its success is defined by its morals, its ethics, and its values ... former Second Commando Regiment Commander and a strategic advisor How bad does it have to get before the country takes the threat seriously enough to make defense the priority it needs to be? All right, let's go. All right, gentlemen, I appreciate your time today. Thank you so much. Um, Colonel Mike Kelly and Brigadier Ian, uh, Langford. Um, Ian, by the way, one of our most decorated soldiers. Uh, thank you so much. I appreciate it. And, and I understand, uh, Brigadier Ian, uh... Should I call you Brigadier or just Ian? What do you, what do you feel comfortable with?
Ian Langford· Guest1:01
Yeah, just Ian. Thanks, Karl. That's what- I'll go with Brigadier then [laughs] ... most people who I now entrust refer to me as.
Karl Stefanovic· Host1:05
[laughs] [laughs] I don't wanna mess with you ever. Um, and, and thank you for- No problem ... your service. Both of you, thank you for your service. Um, Ian, you've come out of, um, what was a, a fairly detailed report, um, from Richard Marles. What are your initial thoughts?
Ian Langford· Guest1:19
Well, we're seeing a continuation of the current defense policy, which was first really articulated with the Defense Strategic Review in '23 and the first of National Defense Strategies in '24.