As part of a policy of independence and self-reliance, Australia needs to rethink the role of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia should abandon the Australia, United Kingdom and United States (AUKUS) defence agreement and the acquisition of extremely expensive nuclear-powered submarines, and move beyond its reliance on a great power for military protection. It should adopt a defensive strategy that includes long-range strike missiles, state-of-the-art drones, cyber defence, and uncrewed marine vessels, with a sensor network linked to a command-control-targeting system. In addition, Australia should enhance its ship-building capacity, and build a strong navy consisting of both crewed and uncrewed vessels, which can protect not only Australia’s coastline but also our coastal waters and the marine and seabed resources they contain. Also, no foreign bases or troops should be stationed on Australian soil unless Australia is engaged in a regional or world war. Finally, Australia should increase defence cooperation and expand trade with our neighbours, including India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and the island nations of the South Pacific. (Australia has defence treaties with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.) Given Australia’s resources and size as a middle-level power, this approach would be much more appropriate and cost effective than the options pursued by successive governments over the last decade.
PAM also contends that eventually the nations of the world will have to work together to form a world government. The world government should create its own military force, and also ensure the decommissioning of all national armed services, to enforce peace and security among the countries of the world. Many countries now spend up to 3% of their GDP on defence, which, after the formation of a world military force and the decommissioning of national armed services, would be better spent on their socio-economic development.
