For decades in Australia we have assumed that America will prevent any serious emerging military threats to Australia, or defend us from them if they do, but now America's power in Asia is waning and those old assumptions are no longer valid.

So what now? We have never really tried to defend ourselves independently, but now we may have no choice. Can it be done, and if so how? What do we really need to defend? What forces do we need? How much would they cost and how serious are the threats?

Speakers:

Professor Hugh White (Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University)

Dr Euan Graham (Executive Director of La Trobe Asia)

The Melbourne launch of How to Defend Australia by Hugh White, published by La Trobe University Press.

Presented at the State Library of Victoria on 17 July, 2019.