Australia’s defence force faces once in a generation shake-up – but to what purpose?

Key strategists say military needs to focus on maritime and long-range strike capabilities to defend Australia’s interests across a wider region

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As the Australian government considers the biggest defence shake-up in nearly four decades, it faces a blunt warning from a key strategist.

Australia’s security outlook has worsened substantially, warns the former defence official Paul Dibb, who carried out the landmark 1985-86 defence review for the then Hawke government. He believes the structure of the Australian defence force needs a significant overhaul to match the times.