Michael Shoebridge

1 month ago | ipa.org.au | Michael Shoebridge |Peter Jennings |Marcus Hellyer |Scott Hargreaves

Australia is facing its most challenging security environment since the Second World War. Defence planners and political leaders of both major parties agree that Australia no longer has the luxury of the once operative ten-year warning time before we need to be ready for a major conflict in our region. Yet we are unprepared for such a crisis. For at least the past decade governments of all persuasions have struggled to translate changing perceptions into decisions and action.

1 month ago | defenceconnect.com.au | Michael Shoebridge |Stephen Kuper

Opinion: The Chinese military’s no-notice live-firing between Australia and New Zealand is bringing deliberate and dangerous behaviour into our peaceful neighbourhood, raising the stakes for Australia and our neighbours, explains Strategic Analysis Australia’s Michael Shoebridge. Of course, China is telling everyone this is all good because it’s not illegal, but it’s odd to hear our prime minister and defence minister parroting their words.

2 months ago | defenceconnect.com.au | Michael Shoebridge |Stephen Kuper

Opinion: No one should take any comfort from the recent engagement that Defence Minister Richard Marles had with newly appointed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in Washington last week, explains Strategic Analysis Australia’s Michael Shoebridge. Instead, we should prepare for the obvious demand Donald Trump will make of Australia and other allies to increase their defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Jan 12, 2025 | ipa.org.au | Michael Shoebridge |Peter Jennings |Marcus Hellyer |Scott Hargreaves

Australia is facing its most challenging security environment since the Second World War. Defence planners and political leaders of both major parties agree that Australia no longer has the luxury of the once operative ten-year warning time before we need to be ready for a major conflict in our region. Yet we are unprepared for such a crisis. For at least the past decade governments of all persuasions have struggled to translate changing perceptions into decisions and action.

Jan 10, 2025 | strategicanalysis.org | Michael Shoebridge

If 2024 was the year of global elections, 2025 is the year voters want experimentation in politics and government – and they’re willing to elect risky people to deliver it. 2024 set a clear pattern: incumbent governments were punished by being chronically weakened or kicked out. Those that held on did so either with radically reduced majorities or, more often, through shaky deals between parties with little in common except keeping political insurgents out.