Australia's defence strategy shifts under new chief and war‑readiness inquiry

Admiral Mark Hammond assumed command of the Australian Defence Force on 9 July, signalling a focus on drafting a National Military Strategy, strengthening long‑term deterrence and fully integrating the service’s five operational domains. His tenure coincides with heightened strategic risk in the Indo‑Pacific as China modernises its forces and allies are urged to share defence burdens.

At the close of the multinational Exercise Pitch Black, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced a parliamentary joint committee to examine civil‑defence preparedness for the first time since World War II. The inquiry will assess how essential goods and services, such as fuel, could be maintained during a crisis and how the private sector might support national security. The government also pledged more than $700 million to equip the RAAF with long‑range air‑to‑air missiles.