Toward Programme
‘My job is to assume things get worse,’ says our new defence chief - AFR
GNews: Australia defence·2026-09-23AUS DefenceP6: Defence SurgeP7: Alliance ArchitectureP8: Northern Arc
Why it matters
The new defence chief's framing of strategic planning around worst-case scenarios signals institutional commitment to readiness across the Northern Arc and maritime defence posture, likely to support budget advocacy for capability modernisation and ADF expansion. This rhetorical positioning reflects serious assessment of China's military trajectory and regional instability, aligning with existing AUKUS and Indo-Pacific alliance commitments.
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