As the “defacto” 51 US State, we will be told what to do, as Sir Humphrey says, “in the fullness of time”.

Self reliance? Yes we need a small highly trained and very mobile very rapid response force that can be dropped/lifted almost anywhere, to either provide humanitarian/medical support in the event of a natural disaster; or illegal coup/terrorist attack on a legitimate elected govt; always providing, UN sanctioned authority? After that, we need to beef up our internal defence, which needs to be based on the Austrian model and makes us into a never ever defeated nation.
To that end, we need far better intell gathering, more submarines, an air arm of mostly vertical take off aircraft, which will function as missile platforms not needing airfields.
We need more remote controlled aircraft, which can be covertly deployed for intell gathering and or field operation support. We need to remember the lessons of history or how quickly an internal defence force can be disposed of, without adequate air cover. Many of these remote controlled vehicles are already manufactured here, along with smart bombs and missiles. Our own forces will need to be professionally trained in guerrilla warfare expertise and have areas they can retreat to; from where they can survive indefinitely and successfully harry and harras any intending occupying expeditionary force. Any expeditionary force will have to cross the moat and would find themselves extremely vulnerable to both torpedo and or guided missile responses; after which they will then need to defend a vast coastline and an extended supply line/logistics/inventory against hit and run attacks, by strategically located defence forces. We once had a very robust military defence manufacture and supplied many other allied nations with ships, aircraft, bombs, artillery and other munitions. Sure it is cheaper in some cases to buy off the shelf; but in the event of an drawn out war; and years of duration, resupply and adequate maintenance, can only ever be guaranteed via total self sufficiency and public ownership and control of military supply/manufacture. We need a much larger ready reserve, which could be easily facilitated by limiting dole periods and payments; and instead, offering much more lucrative defence training options to able-bodied dole recipients. Rhrosty.

Hi Andrew

On Australian surveillance I read a rumour a year ago that our DoD (for DIGO and other areas) was buying a complete US Lacrosse style radar satellite (unlikely) or (more likely) at least a reserved feed on a US Lacrosse (or its replacement) - I'm unsure how far this has gone. See my article on this http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/australian-to-lease-part-of-us-lacrosse.html

Increasing Chinese influence in Timor - already 2 Chinese patrol boats (possibley having a small but effective sigint surveillance of our northern waters and northern area bases mission) see my OLO article here http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10581 .

Australia's major enemies are not countries but two defence dreams that have been 'sold' to a long line of defence ministers:

1. The desire to build 12 subs in Adelaide for union and marginal electorate/seat (votes) reasons. The ALP should be pragmatic in buying the US Virginia Class in the same way the ALP pragmatically decided to legalise the export of Uranium to India. and

2. Australia being a premature, early 'off the plan' buyer of the F-35(sky high price, many bugs) rather than a later buyer who will get a mature design at a more competitive lower price.

Pete
at petemate@fastmail.fm