Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Back for his question. Included in the white paper that the Prime Minister and I released last Thursday is a very comprehensive assessment of Australia's strategic environment over the next two decades—the matters to which Senator Back has referred. Whilst the white paper acknowledges that there is no more than a remote prospect of an attack on Australian territory by another country in the next 20 years, we will undeniably face a more complex and unpredictable strategic environment.

In the strategic review, six key drivers that will shape Australia's security environment were assessed by Defence and by the government. Firstly, there is the roles of the United States and China, and particularly the relationship between them—characterised most certainly by cooperation and, in some cases, differences of opinion. Secondly, there are challenges to the stability of the rules based global order, including efforts by some nations who are trying to promote their own interests outside what are regarded as established rules. Thirdly, and importantly, there is the enduring threat of terrorism to Australia's security. We see the spread of extremism and violence not just in capitals around the world; in fact, it has marked our own shores on occasion as well—and it is likely to be worsened as foreign terrorist fighters potentially return from their activities. Fourthly, there is state fragility, including within our immediate neighbourhood. Simultaneously, there is the sped-up pace of regional military modernisation delivering more capable regional military forces. Finally, we see more complex security threats, including cyberthreats to the security of our information and communications systems.

These six drivers will lead significantly to the shaping of Australia's security environment— (Time expired)