That concludes our rolling coverage of the Defending Australia summit from Old Parliament House. Thanks for following along!
Watch the highlights: Defending Australia 2024 forum explores military challenges in an unstable world
An interpreter resigned on the spot when she realised she might need to translate negative comments about her homeland by a former Chinese spy at the Defending Australia summit.
The race to build Australia’s military capability in a time of rising global instability and uncertainty will be the focus of an agenda-setting defence summit today – and you can watch it live and follow our rolling blog right here.
Defending Australia, to be held in Canberra this afternoon, will explore our nation’s preparedness for conflict as the threat posed by China’s massive military build-up intensifies, and wars rage in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The event will hear from Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, executives from major defence firms KBR and BAE Systems Australia, early career recruits and even a former Chinese spy.
Sky News presenter Cheng Lei, who was detained by Chinese authorities for three years until her release in October 2023, will host a panel, and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, just back from an AUKUS-focused visit to the US, will deliver the keynote address.
The event will begin at 2pm AEST (1.30pm SA time). Follow our blog below for live updates.
Updates
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'The best job that I've had'
The recruits were asked what they'd say to young people considering a job in defence.
Jemma Gilbert – Army
"The army is definitely the best job that I've had – that balance of challenge and reward. You just feel like you're actually contributing to something."
Adam Lachlan – Navy
"Regardless of your personal circumstances, there's a job for you."
Corina Costin – RAAF
"They'll find their feet just like I did … I have more certainty about my future."
Izaak Gurney – KBR
"Take the time to plan that transition. You need to take the time to make sure you understand all the pros and cons with that."
John Dunstan – Babcock
"Give it a go. People think that you have to be in STEM, but there's a lot more than that … there's definitely going to be a position for you."
Why aren't young people drawn to the ADF?
The recruits were asked why they think more young people aren't drawn to the ADF?
ADFA graduate Izaak Gurney – who leads the space, cyber and information systems program at KBR – said it's a challenge faced by Defence to promote all the benefits and opportunities offered by the job.
Another challenge is that the ADF is competing with industry and government. Industry has a lot to offer, including the "feel-good factor" that is often seen as a benefit of the ADF.
He says there are opportunities in industry that you can't get in defence.
'A really good opportunity': Recruits on their path into defence
It's time for our last panel of the day. We'll hear from the recruits that are defending Australia and building our defence capacity. This panel is also being hosted by Ms Cheng.
The recruits were asked about why they were drawn to the ADF.
Army Private Jemma Gilbert said she was working as a teacher's aide but wasn't getting job satisfaction – and clicked on a job ad that came up on her phone.
She said the job offers a wide range of benefits such as rent allowance, keeping fit, medical and dental cover and meeting new people around the country.
"It's been a really good opportunity for me," she said.
RAAF Leading Aircraftwoman Corina Costin was an architect but also found herself wanting to change paths.
"Defence is really good at putting you on your feet, especially in your twenties when you don't want to live with your parents anymore," she said.
She said it's been rewarding to be able to "give back".
Former spy warns of dissidents in western countries
Eric, the former Chinese spy, was asked whether western governments should be concerned about Chinese dissidents in their countries.
Eric, through Ms Cheng's interpretation, said western politicians are usually not concerned about Chinese spies.
"But, in fact, the CCP's attempt to control voices in the Chinese community actually then affects voting in those (western) countries and influences politics," she said.
"So that … erodes rights in western countries, and should be something that we're concerned about."
'A big wake-up call'
Mr Myroshnychenko was asked about what will happen if Ukraine loses the war against Russia.
He said, if that happens, it will embolden Russia and they may work more closely with other regimes – like North Korea.
"We can only imagine what that cooperation between Russia and North Korea can actually mean," he said.
He said that the aggression of Russia is a global issue, and the outcome of the conflict will define what international security will look like into the future.
"By seeing what Russia have done in Ukraine … it's a big wake-up call (for the defence industry)," he said.
"Definitely countries need to invest more in their military and more in their defence industry.
"That's the best way to deter any further aggression."
Sharma on Israel: 'still in trauma'
Senator Sharma recently went to Israel and reflected "it's still a country that's living on October the 8th".
"What I detected amongst Israeli people is that the nation is still very much in trauma but quite resolute, and this is across the political spectrum, that only way forward is through the comprehensive defeat of Hamas," he said.
He pointed out that, through the October attacks, Hamas has done more to progress the cause of Palestinian statehood than had happened in the last 10 years.
"Suddenly, they've got Israel in the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice," he said.
"You've got European states unilaterally recognising the state of Palestine."
He says these actions convey to Hamas that its "pathway yields results".
'That's how deep the fear is'
Cheng Lei is now hosting a panel featuring Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Senator Dave Sharma and "Eric" – a former Chinese Spy.
Ms Cheng began the panel by explaining that an interpreter had been engaged for Eric but she resigned on the spot when she found out she might have to translate negative comments about China.
"That's how deep the fear is. That's what we're defending against," she said.
Wong: 'Advancing our interests requires engagement'
The summit has watched a video of Senator Wong, who was unable to attend because of her commitments at Senate Estimates.
In her message, Senator Wong said Australia wants to stabilise relations with China to “better advance our interests and navigate our differences”.
“We have seen large-scale Chinese military operations in the Taiwan Strait becoming a routine event. The Risk of an accident, and potential escalation, is growing,” she said.
“Advancing our interests requires engagement. Engagement is not concession. So Australia is working to build momentum for dialogue and preventive architecture to reduce the risks of escalation, miscalculation and catastrophic conflict."
Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan for two days of drills that ended on Saturday, which China said were a test of its ability to seize the island.
Read more about Senator Wong's speech here: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/penny-wong-to-deliver-blunt-message-on-chinas-military-operations-at-defending-australia-summit/news-story/f76af502aa4f293b87df6b2f402e765b
Cheng Lei appears at Defending Australia
After a short break, the summit has resumed with a special moment.
Freed journalist Cheng Lei has spoken about her admiration for Foreign Minister Penny Wong. She said Senator Wong does things "with heart".
She has brought with her a handwritten card from Senator Wong to her children, and said that, while she was in detention, she was kept up-to-date about Senator Wong's tweets about her.
She said it was so reassuring to know that Senator Wong – the one person who could help her – would always speak up for her.
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