Defence of Australia Policy
Encyclopedia
The Defence of Australia Policy was Australia's dominant defence policy between 1972 and 1997. The policy was focused on the defence of continental Australia against external attack. Under this policy the Australian Defence Force
was tailored to defending Australia rather than developing capabilities to operate outside Australian territory.
. The policy was developed during the 1970s and early 1980s before being formalised in the 'Dibb Report
' of 1986 and the 1987 and 1994 Defence White Paper
s.
(ADF) was restructured to increase its ability to strike at enemy forces from Australian bases. This was achieved by increasing the size and capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force
and Royal Australian Navy
at the expense of the Army
and the forces which had been used to project Australian power overseas (such as Australia's aircraft carrier
, HMAS Melbourne, which was retired without replacement).
Specific force structure changes introduced under the DOA policy included:
It is important to note, however, that the adoption of the DOA policy did not involve Australia adopting a policy of neutrality
or completely disbanding its ability to deploy forces overseas. During the DOA era Australia maintained its alliances with the United States and New Zealand and sought to develop stronger defence relationships with South East Asian countries. In addition, the ADF
maintained a sizable force of transport aircraft and amphibious ships and an infantry brigade capable of rapidly deploying overseas (the 3rd Brigade
). Furthermore, Australian forces continued to be deployed overseas for exercises and peace keeping operations and a small Australian military base was permanently maintained at Butterworth
in Malaysia.
which has seen the Australian Army deployed more often than anticipated under DOA.
To a large extent, the Liberal Party
government elected in 1996 embraced these criticisms and has re-oriented Australian defence policy by placing greater emphasis on the ADFs
ability to deploy overseas. This does not, however, represent a return to 'forward defence' as it involves Australian expeditionary forces deploying from bases in Australia, and not the permanent stationing of Australian military units overseas. Furthermore, defending Australia from external attack remains the ADF's
primary responsibility.
into East Timor
in 1999 highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the Defence of Australia policy. While the enhanced defence infrastructure in northern Australia and high-tech naval and air units played a critical role in the operation, the limited availability of deployable logistical units and infantry constrained the operation, especially in its early days.
While the Australian government has expanded the Army's logistical units in light of this experience, the ADF's
force structure remains largely unchanged from that which was developed during the DOA era. A key reason for this is that given the massive distances which need to be covered to protect northern Australia, the units developed for the Defence of Australia are inherently capable of deploying outside Australia i.e. emphasis upon a light and mobile land contingent.
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
was tailored to defending Australia rather than developing capabilities to operate outside Australian territory.
Development
The Defence of Australia (DOA) Policy was adopted after the previous policy of 'forward defence' was discredited in the public eye by Australia's involvement in the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The policy was developed during the 1970s and early 1980s before being formalised in the 'Dibb Report
Dibb Report
The Review of Australia's Defence Capabilities, better known as the Dibb Report, was an influential review of Australia's defence plans. While the report's recommendations were not fully accepted by the Hawke Government, they lead to significant changes in Australia's defence policy, including...
' of 1986 and the 1987 and 1994 Defence White Paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
s.
Implications
Under DOA the focus of Australian defence planning was to protect Australia's northern maritime approaches (the 'air-sea gap') against enemy attack. In line with this goal, the Australian Defence ForceAustralian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
(ADF) was restructured to increase its ability to strike at enemy forces from Australian bases. This was achieved by increasing the size and capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
at the expense of the Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and the forces which had been used to project Australian power overseas (such as Australia's aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, HMAS Melbourne, which was retired without replacement).
Specific force structure changes introduced under the DOA policy included:
- Increasing the number of units based in northern Australia
- Raising three Regional Force Surveillance UnitsRegional Force Surveillance Units"RFSU" redirects here. For the Swedish organization, see Swedish Association for Sexuality EducationThe Regional Force Surveillance Units are specialised infantry units of the Australian Army Reserve responsible for patrolling northern Australia...
- Developing RAAF Base TindalRAAF Base TindalRAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
as an operational fighter base - Developing three 'bare bases'RAAF Bare BasesThe Royal Australian Air Force currently maintains three Bare Bases in remote areas of Northern Australia. These bases were developed in the 1980s and 1990s in line with the Defence of Australia Policy in order to enhance the RAAF's ability to conduct combat operations from the Australian mainland...
for the RAAF in northern Queensland and Western Australia - Development of the Jindalee over-the-horizon radar network
- Development of the Collins class submarineCollins class submarineThe Collins class is a class of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins; all six submarines are named after significant RAN personnel who distinguished themselves in...
s
It is important to note, however, that the adoption of the DOA policy did not involve Australia adopting a policy of neutrality
Neutral country
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
or completely disbanding its ability to deploy forces overseas. During the DOA era Australia maintained its alliances with the United States and New Zealand and sought to develop stronger defence relationships with South East Asian countries. In addition, the ADF
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
maintained a sizable force of transport aircraft and amphibious ships and an infantry brigade capable of rapidly deploying overseas (the 3rd Brigade
Australian 3rd Brigade
The 3rd Brigade is a combined arms brigade of the Australian Army, based around the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment . It was originally formed in 1914 for service during World War I, taking part in the fighting at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in Europe...
). Furthermore, Australian forces continued to be deployed overseas for exercises and peace keeping operations and a small Australian military base was permanently maintained at Butterworth
Butterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
in Malaysia.
Criticisms of the policy
Most criticisms of the DOA policy focus on the policy's inflexibility. In particular, it is argued that Australia's foreign relations and defence interests require a defence force which is capable of rapidly deploying outside Australia. It is also argued that the DOA force structure was not capable of adequately responding to threats other than a direct attack on Australian soil. Furthermore, it is also argued that the DOA policy is unsuitable for coping with the less stable geopolitical conditions since the end of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
which has seen the Australian Army deployed more often than anticipated under DOA.
To a large extent, the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
government elected in 1996 embraced these criticisms and has re-oriented Australian defence policy by placing greater emphasis on the ADFs
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
ability to deploy overseas. This does not, however, represent a return to 'forward defence' as it involves Australian expeditionary forces deploying from bases in Australia, and not the permanent stationing of Australian military units overseas. Furthermore, defending Australia from external attack remains the ADF's
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
primary responsibility.
Consequences of East Timor
The Australian-lead interventionINTERFET
The International Force for East Timor was a multinational peacekeeping taskforce, mandated by the United Nations to address the humanitarian and security crisis which took place in East Timor from 1999–2000 until the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers...
into East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
in 1999 highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the Defence of Australia policy. While the enhanced defence infrastructure in northern Australia and high-tech naval and air units played a critical role in the operation, the limited availability of deployable logistical units and infantry constrained the operation, especially in its early days.
While the Australian government has expanded the Army's logistical units in light of this experience, the ADF's
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
force structure remains largely unchanged from that which was developed during the DOA era. A key reason for this is that given the massive distances which need to be covered to protect northern Australia, the units developed for the Defence of Australia are inherently capable of deploying outside Australia i.e. emphasis upon a light and mobile land contingent.