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https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/australia-must-consider-bringing-back-conscription-as-allout-war-with-russia-looms-expert-says/news-story/b1ced960b821027163b05b15ad47e5e6
Australia must consider bringing back conscription as ‘all-out war’ with Russia looms, expert says
Australia must consider reintroducing conscription to boost its troop numbers in the face of a looming “all-out war” with Russia, an expert says.
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Australia must seriously consider reintroducing conscription to boost its troop numbers in the face of a looming “all-out war” with Russia, a defence analyst says.
Rapidly rising global tensions in eastern Europe and the Middle East threaten to “drag Australia into an orbit of an open confrontation”, Dr Alexey Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, said.
He added it may be “time for Australia to consider another uncomfortable subject — the return of national service”.
“Back in 1972, Labor under Gough Whitlam abolished the national service in peacetime, even though it could still be reactivated in times of war,” Dr Muraviev wrote in an op-ed for Sky News Australia on Sunday.
“Fifty-two years later, we should be asking ourselves and Labor under Anthony Albanese if we should consider reintroducing a form of national service to increase a pool of trained reserves while we still have time. Or should we wait to be dragged into a major conflict, and deal with the consequences?”
Successive Australian governments have recognised the inadequate size of the Australian Defence Force, with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledging a 30 per cent increase to a target of 80,000 personnel by 2040 — a policy supported by Labor.
Special Operations Task Group soldiers salute fallen Corporal Scott Smith. Picture: Department of Defence
Special Operations Task Group soldiers salute fallen Corporal Scott Smith. Picture: Department of Defence
Last year, top-secret war-gaming exercises conducted for the Albanese government’s defence review concluded Australia would be “f***ed” if China established a military base in a nearby Pacific nation such as the Solomon Islands.
“The question of the ADF’s size came to the fore during Australia’s contingencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which required considerable commitments supported by regular rotations of personnel,” Dr Muraviev wrote.
“As the risk of Australia being drawn into a major war increase, we are facing a short window of opportunity to address some of the shortfalls in our defence capability.”
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott last year floated the idea mandatory military service for school leavers.
It comes days after similar comments from European leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who used his Daily Mail column on Saturday to pledge to fight in the British army if war ever breaks out with Russia.
Mr Johnson was responding to comments last week by General Patrick Sanders, the UK’s highest ranking army officer, who warned that British citizens should be prepared to fight in a potential land war.
A destroyed apartment block in the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. Picture: Armed Forces of Ukraine/AFP
A destroyed apartment block in the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. Picture: Armed Forces of Ukraine/AFP
“No sooner had I posed myself the question — would I sign up to fight for King and country? — than I had the answer. Of course I jolly well would,” Mr Johnson wrote.
Mr Johnson said that while he hoped and believed his “services will not be called upon” in a “direct military confrontation, with Russia or any other potential adversary”, it would be “deluded” to think that “war is impossible”.
“History teaches us that the best way to preserve the peace is to be vigilant,” he wrote. “The best way to deter the aggression of men such as Vladimir Putin is to be strong. The best way to prevent a war is to prepare for it. Si vis pacem para bellum.”
And two top defence officials in Sweden — which is set to become part of NATO — have also made headlines by urging Swedes to prepare for war.
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