It’s a pity that strategic geography isn’t on the agenda of a leading defence exhibition next week, because Defence and the Australian Army could well use a chance to talk with others about how better to exploit the great strategic potential of northern Australia.
Making the most of northern Australia would mean enhancing operational effectiveness of the Australian Defence Force and shortening its internal lines of communication. It can’t be done properly unless and until Defence and the army engage with the industry and local, state and territory governments of the north.
The event will be the Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition, bringing together Defence, industry and government leaders. It will follow this year’s National Defence Strategy and last year’s Defence Strategic Review, both of which repeatedly mentioned northern Australia.
As a pivotal gateway to the Indo-Pacific region, northern Australia holds a unique and significant position. It is an essential hub for projecting Australian military power and engaging in joint operations with regional allies. Its geographic location provides a crucial strategic advantage for monitoring and responding to regional threats.
By leveraging the advantages of both Darwin and Townsville, the Australian Army can refine its amphibious and coastal strategies, ensure swift and efficient maritime deployments and bolster its readiness to respond to emerging threats in littoral zones. However, to do so effectively, it must partner with the communities and governments it is working with. This collaboration is not just necessary but a strategic imperative for strengthening operational effectiveness in these critical environments, emphasising the importance of unity and shared goals.
So far, the army, and Defence more widely, haven’t been clear in their engagement in the north.
For example, in 2012 the Queensland government finished building its Southern Port Access Road across the Ross River. But the resulting low-level bridge is sometimes flooded, rendering the army’s amphibious base at Ross Island unusable.
For more than a year, Defence left the Northern Territory government and local industry with the distinct impression that the army’s helicopters would remain based in Darwin—only to find out later that this wasn’t the case.
In another case of poor communication, a northern government had to spend more than a year to get technical specifications from the army and Defence as it planned to build railway unloading ramps at a port rail terminal. That government wanted to ensure the ramps were strong enough to unload armoured vehicles, should the army need to do so.
In September 2023, the army designated Townsville as the hub for armoured vehicles and its attack and medium-lift aviation. As a result, 500 army personnel and their families will move from Adelaide to Townsville. Despite the decision’s great financial, economic and social implications, the Townsville local government was consulted only after the public announcement.
Darwin and Townsville, with their strategic locations and infrastructure, play pivotal roles in enhancing the Australian Army’s littoral capabilities. They provide crucial bases for deploying and sustaining littoral forces, facilitating rapid access to maritime and amphibious training areas. The cities’ port facilities and proximity to vital sea lanes enable effective staging and resupply of littoral operations. At the same time, their geographic positioning supports exercises and real-world operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
Northern Australia is a region of growth. Its private sector capacity is focused on commercial growth across various sectors, including agriculture, mining, and oil and gas. If the Australian Army is to operate in the region, it must actively discuss its current and future intent and work with the region and its stakeholders rather than through them.
The Korean War vividly displayed the value of leveraging geography to optimise internal lines of communication in logistics and resupply. At first, extended and vulnerable supply lines impeded prompt delivery of vital resources and reinforcements. As the US and allied forces engaged with North Korean troops, it became evident that speeding up resupply was essential to achieving operational success.
By refining their communication and logistics networks, the US and its allies markedly enhanced the speed and dependability of resupply operations. This overhaul mitigated logistical delays and bolstered the effectiveness of military sustainment. Consequently, frontline units received timely support, which proved instrumental in countering North Korean advances.
The US Department of Defense and the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command understand this lesson and the value of Australia’s strategic geography. Their investment in fuel storage in Darwin and the US Force Posture Initiative are clear signals. There can also be no mistake that these efforts are focused on shortening their internal lines of communication in case of any future conflict in the region.
There are apparent efficiencies in centralising Defence manufacturing in Australia’s southern states to achieve economies of scale. But Defence and the army must now take the National Defence Strategy and consider the strategic importance of geography in shortening their internal lines of communication for military logistics. They can do so by using Townsville and Darwin. Local, state and territory governments and industry would welcome such a development, but this would require significant collaboration.
Defence and the army will realise the strategic value of northern Australia only if the region’s infrastructure is sufficiently robust and scalable to support rapid deployment and resupply capabilities.
The necessary regional development isn’t just a matter for Defence; it will only occur with broader government intervention and private-public cooperation. This development issue is about more than just Defence meeting the costs. It is about how Defence and the army can work with industry and the governments in the north to nurture the necessary development.
