Analyses

Insights and observations on key defence and security issues from DSI staff and academics across UWA.

Analysis

Australia can’t keep track of illegal fishing and people smuggling risk due to size of coasts, experts warn

UWA DSI Research Fellow Dr Troy Lee-Brown quoted in The West Australian on IUU fishing in the state's north.

Analysis

Talking Foreign Affairs: An Interview with Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell

Hosted by Adil Cader, in collaboration with UWA Defence and Security Institute.

Analysis

Hidden cultural treasures now within easy digital reach

The diaries, essays and recordings of one of Australia’s most renowned female pianists are among a treasure trove of cultural curiosities now housed in one digital location – UWA Collected.

Analysis

[BLOG] AUKUS or ‘AUK’-ward? A Youth Perspective on Australia’s Acquisition of Conventionally-Armed Nuclear-Powered Submarines

Australia has been forced to reimagine its investments in capabilities and deterrence in order to defend its national interests.

Analysis

New depth of understanding about how camouflage takes shape

A study led by The University of Western Australia has revealed a tool used by prey to conceal 3D body shapes in nature, providing a different perspective on how camouflage works. “Our work suggests that patterns that interfere with animals’ depth perception could be an intriguing strategy for avoiding predation.” Dr Jennifer Kelley, UWA School of Biological Sciences

Analysis

Project Highlight: Delivering novel therapeutics to target bio-threat pathogens

DMTC has partnered with the University of Western Australia and Monash University to generate optimised compounds capable of inhibiting multiple bacterial pathogens of interest to Defence. (More details on page 35)

Analysis

The West Australian | WA must adapt AUKUS, $368b nuclear-powered submarine deal by David Johnston, Professor Gia Parish and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

The Federal Government’s AUKUS nuclear submarine program highlights the growing strategic importance of Perth and WA to the Indo-Pacific region but much more work is needed to address how we meet all the infrastructure and personnel needs.

Analysis

The Jakarta Post | Tensions in South China Sea continue, but ASEAN successfully resolves maritime disputes by Dr Bec Strating and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

In a flurry of late-April private talks, Filipino diplomats challenged officials from China over the recent pattern of assertive behavior from Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. The behavior by the Chinese included the early-February targeting of a Philippine Coast Guard ship with a...

Analysis

7 News | Northern Bases Upgrades | Featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

Canberra announced it will spend almost $4 billion over the next four years, significantly upgrading Australia's northern bases from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands across to Queensland. They will be fitted out with long-range strike weapons, better runways and security.

Analysis

Melbourne Asia Review | Lessons from successful maritime dispute resolutions in the Indo-Pacific by Dr Bec Strating and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

The papers in this series Beyond the South China Sea: other maritime disputes in Southeast Asia have highlighted the persistence of ‘lesser-known’ maritime boundary disputes in Southeast Asia. Yet, they also reveal the efforts of regional states to resolve these disputes.

Analysis

10 News | US plans to deploy Virginia class submarines to WA from 2027 featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

"I do think you'll see an increase in US presence, particularly naval presence in Western Australia," says UWA Defence and Security Institute Research Fellow, Dr Troy Lee-Brown.

Analysis

Defence research leader issues call to arms for women featuring Professor Gia Parish

On the eve of International Women’s Day 2023, the Director of the Defence and Security Institute at The University of Western Australia is encouraging more women to enter the sector to bring the “balance, connectivity and agility” it needs in the face of global uncertainty.

Analysis

ABC News | Trepidation over ADF plan to upgrade Cocos (Keeling) Islands featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

A community leader on Australia's most westerly tropical territory has called for clarity about a half-a-billion dollar upgrade of the territory's military capabilities amid fears it will create a security risk and infrastructure headaches.

Analysis

Cosmos Magazine | How are our universities preparing for AUKUS? featuring Professor Gia Parish

Twelve months on from the fanfare and the secrecy of the AUKUS announcement, questions remain over the deal and how Australia will fill the skills gaps needed to facilitate the transfer of science and technology under the arrangement.

Analysis

East Asia Forum | Navigating maritime security in the Bay of Bengal by Dr Troy Lee-Brown

The year 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership between ASEAN and India, but there are new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. Southeast Asian states should strengthen their regional maritime security...

Analysis

ABC | UWA DSI Chair Professor Stephen Smith to lead the Defence Strategic Review

The Chair of UWA Defence & Security Institute Professor Stephen Smith and retired Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston will jointly oversee a comprehensive study of the ADF's structure, preparedness and investments.

Analysis

ABC | North West Defence Alliance hopes Force Posture Review will bolster WA resources featuring Professor Peter Dean

More defence resources could be sent to the northern West Australian coast to protect critical assets following a new review of the Australian Defence Force's strategic positions, according to experts. Representatives from the North West Defence Alliance—made up of five Pilbara and four Kimberley shires—travelled to Canberra last week to meet with Australian defence personnel to advocate for a stronger defence presence on the northern coast.

Analysis

Expanding the Indo-Pacific Region to East Africa by Faiza Samatar

27 June 2022 Introduction The emergence of the term ‘Indo-Pacific’ has conjured up different visions of regional geographical expanses over the past decade. The geo-political region of the Indo-Pacific has been attributed to the area between the western United States and India, combining the Pacific Ocean and the eastern end of the Indian Ocean[1]. In recent years, the region’s political and economic importance has grown partly because of China and India’s economic growth and consequently the rise of their political and military strength. Increased global economic growth has also…

Analysis

BBC World News | Pacific security and China’s strategic reach featuring Professor Peter Dean

What we’re seeing here is a pattern of development from China as their power in the region expands. Therefore, their reach is basically spanning into the far flung reaches of the South Pacific, and they’re looking at economic cooperation and hinting towards security cooperation as well. We’ve seen this as part of a pattern of China’s strategic reach.

Analysis

Asia Rising | Australia votes 2022: Our place in the region featuring Peter Dean

Much of this election has focused on our regional relationships and our place in the global order. Many have labelled this a 'khaki election', with national security becoming a major election issue. The campaign so far has been dominated by regional issues, particularly the fallout of China's pact with the Solomon Islands.

Analysis

The Interpreter | What went wrong? How Morrison lost control of the khaki election by Peter Dean

Two of the most recognised concepts from the great Prussian philosopher of war, Karl von Clausewitz are friction and chance. Clausewitz noted that friction “includes all those surprising things” that happen that make “even the simplest thing difficult”. Chance, meanwhile, is where “guesswork and luck come to play”.

Analysis

Sky News | ‘Friction and chance’ playing against Coalition’s campaign | Remarks by Peter Dean

UWA Chair of Defence Studies Peter Dean says “friction and chance” are two key factors playing against the Coalition’s election campaign. Prof. Dean said the Solomon Islands deal became a chance element which has “really hurt the government” in any national security debate.

Analysis

The West Australian | How Australia risks regional irrelevance over its foreign policy by Peter Dean

What we learnt from the defence debate this week is that both sides of politics are united in their belief that Australia faces significant and enhanced risks in the international environment. As such they both believe that increasing defence spending is an important security benchmark.

Analysis

In Conversation with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko

On 28 April, the UWA Defence and Security Institute hosted Ukraine’s newly installed Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko for an In Conversation public event.

Analyses

Australia can’t keep track of illegal fishing and people smuggling risk due to size of coasts, experts warn

Talking Foreign Affairs: An Interview with Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell

Hidden cultural treasures now within easy digital reach

[BLOG] AUKUS or ‘AUK’-ward? A Youth Perspective on Australia’s Acquisition of Conventionally-Armed Nuclear-Powered Submarines

New depth of understanding about how camouflage takes shape

Project Highlight: Delivering novel therapeutics to target bio-threat pathogens

The West Australian | WA must adapt AUKUS, $368b nuclear-powered submarine deal by David Johnston, Professor Gia Parish and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

The Jakarta Post | Tensions in South China Sea continue, but ASEAN successfully resolves maritime disputes by Dr Bec Strating and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

7 News | Northern Bases Upgrades | Featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

Melbourne Asia Review | Lessons from successful maritime dispute resolutions in the Indo-Pacific by Dr Bec Strating and Dr Troy Lee-Brown

10 News | US plans to deploy Virginia class submarines to WA from 2027 featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

Defence research leader issues call to arms for women featuring Professor Gia Parish

ABC News | Trepidation over ADF plan to upgrade Cocos (Keeling) Islands featuring Dr Troy Lee-Brown

Cosmos Magazine | How are our universities preparing for AUKUS? featuring Professor Gia Parish

East Asia Forum | Navigating maritime security in the Bay of Bengal by Dr Troy Lee-Brown

ABC | UWA DSI Chair Professor Stephen Smith to lead the Defence Strategic Review

ABC | North West Defence Alliance hopes Force Posture Review will bolster WA resources featuring Professor Peter Dean

Expanding the Indo-Pacific Region to East Africa by Faiza Samatar

BBC World News | Pacific security and China’s strategic reach featuring Professor Peter Dean

Asia Rising | Australia votes 2022: Our place in the region featuring Peter Dean

The Interpreter | What went wrong? How Morrison lost control of the khaki election by Peter Dean

Sky News | ‘Friction and chance’ playing against Coalition’s campaign | Remarks by Peter Dean

The West Australian | How Australia risks regional irrelevance over its foreign policy by Peter Dean

In Conversation with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko

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