Defence Strategy Criticised as Hollow Amid Rising Indo-Pacific Threats

ASPI’s new report warns Labor’s defence plans risk creating a ‘paper ADF’ despite promises of generational investment.

Australian and United States Army soldiers watch a United States Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fire in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. (Courtesy of the Australian Defence Force).

Australia risks being caught unprepared amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions, with a new report warning that the Albanese government’s defence posture leans too heavily on long-term promises while ignoring immediate threats.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI) Cost of Defence 2025–26 report, released on May 29, delivers a blunt assessment of Labor’s approach.