The Grumpy Strategists

In Episode 10, SAA's Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge discuss the indicators and warnings about the state of Australia's military coming out of the decision to not provide a warship to the multinational mission to the Red Sea, and the shortfalls in the Australian Army's ability to deploy shown by the assistance to the North Queensland floods. The extraordinary growth in staffing and spending in the AUKUS subs project team in Australia that's already happening provides a further warning of the growing pressures on Australia's military budget and force.

SAA's Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge look at the implications of elections from Taiwan, to India, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Poland and across the EU for collective action on everything ranging from climate change to China policy and the war in Ukraine. They show why Australia's Future Fund has invested $600m into defence industry everywhere but the autocracies and here at home, and end with a dive into the practical impacts of Australia's proposed new export controls.

"It looks like Australia just gave up its sovereignty and got nothing for it': This episode focuses on the proposed new Australia law that's meant to make innovation happen under the AUKUS partnership, but instead seems guaranteed to kill innovation and ensure even higher barriers to doing business with Defence. Forget working with anyone but the Anglosphere - so the hugely powerful creativity of Japan and South Korea isn't part of this disastrous - proposed - plan. It's permits for everyone.

Australian PM Albanese's world tour ends with a bright spot in the South Pacific. An internal review of the Australian Defence Department's advice and it's compliance with financial and administrative rules shows deep leadership failure at the highest level. And the B-21 as an alternative long range strike platform for Australia.

In Grumpy Strategists Episode 5, Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge get into why the complex, top heavy leadership structure of Defence affects performance and demotivates those below it. They discuss the recruitment and retention crisis in the Australian military that's unfolded since 2016 - a force that's meant to have grown has shrunk - and finish with insights about the state of the US Navy from a report to Congress released as Mr Albanese left Washington.

In Episode 4 the Grumpy Strategists cover the restructuring of the Australian Army in the aftermath of the Defence Strategic Review, as well as setting out the lessons and challenges for the Defence Force from the permanent grounding of the Army's Taipan helicopters after a fatal crash. They end by discussing the implications for the Australian government's China policy around PM Albanese's trips to Beijing and Washington, and the challenges for Mr Albanese in a distracted Washington.

Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge discuss what the Ukrainian military's attack on Sevasotopol says about navies & denial. This, along with lessons from Australia's 25 year journey of discovery in a multi-billion dollar US drone program, can and should drive a reassessment of what Australia's military needs - and what the broader Australian industrial base can provide. Hint: digging stuff up has a dual-use tech side.

The second Grumpy Strategists Production looks at ‘continuous shipbuilding’ and the Navy. 6 years on, the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise hasn’t delivered any ships. Meanwhile, the ANZAC frigates and Collins submarines are ageing & will become increasingly fragile. What does the Defence Strategic Review show us about the role of the Navy? While the public debate around US Admiral Hilarides’ review is limited to a furious argument about big or small ships, Hilarides’ job has to get beyond that and provide a practical plan – even if this costs the Government money.