Dire warnings issued in Darwin at North Australia Defence Summit

A retired US commander has issued a stern warning to industry leaders at a defence summit in Darwin, giving hundreds of people a sobering reminder of the threats Australia faces.

The growth of China’s naval fleet was laid bare at the Northern Australia Defence Summit in Darwin. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

A retired US commander has issued a stern warning to industry leaders at a defence summit in Darwin, giving hundreds of people a sobering reminder of the threats Australia faces.

On Tuesday, more than 300 professionals from defence, government and industry attended the Northern Australian Defence Summit which was held at the Darwin Convention Centre.

With the theme “Uplifting Industry Across the North to Meet Capability Demands of the ADF, Allies and Partners”, the summit was pitched as an opportunity for businesses to learn, network and discuss defence development opportunities across Northern Australia.

Among the attendees were curious business owners and entrepreneurs keen to get a gauge of what commercial opportunities lay within the military business.

Lieutenant General (retired) John Wissler didn’t mince his words when outlining the strategic challenges posed to Australia. Picture: Harry Brill.

Before contracts and projects took centre stage, however, retired US Marine commander, lieutenant general John Wissler, gave a flat reminder of what was at stake.

“Since last year, things have only gotten worse in terms of the challenge,” he said.

“And that primary challenge, I’m not going to dance around, the topic is China.”

General Wissler said China’s five island chains, which span both the Pacific and Indian oceans, represented a shift in Beijing’s strategic outlook.

“This would tell us their strategic imperative is global, not regional,” he said.

China’s naval capability was also laid bare.

“The expectation is that China will have 425 warships by 2030,” he said.

“Their growth in submarines is even more remarkable, they’re going to grow from 65 submarines to 80 by 2035.”

North Korea and Moscow also got a mention.

“Russia is growing its capability and influence in the Pacific,” he said.

“That influence is significant - they’ve added three submarines to their Pacific fleet (in 2024).”

The crowd was told Australia nor its allied partners had the industrial base to “defeat that of China”.

It was heard Northern Australia needed to ramp up its economic and military output to keep up pace with Xi Jinping’s China.

“It’s about building an ever increasing cyber and space capability and partnership,” General Wissler said.

“It’s about growing a coalition industrial base through AUKUS pillar two and other agreements that support critical minerals, strategic fuels and multiple other products in what I call the global coalition industrial base.”

A grim assessment was shared.

“None of our countries, independently, have an industrial base right now that will defeat that of China.”

Up to $18bn has been set aside by the Integrated Investment Program for the development of Australia’s north.

With the room jolted to attention, a number of speakers gave niche presentations, including Damien Halliday of BAE Systems Australia and Sitzler’s Nicholas Andrew.

The significance of the Top End was highlighted by Brigadier Matthew Quinn, who said there was a high “demand” for development.

“In my 30 years of service in the ADF, there’s never been a time where there’s been more of a focus on infrastructure and facilities in Northern Australia.”

According to the government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program, up to $18bn will be invested into developing Australia’s north.

However, Brigadier Quinn said there was more cash behind the scenes.

“That doesn’t include the US funded projects.”

Originally published as Dire warnings issued in Darwin at North Australia Defence Summit