Erin Molan: The chance of war in our region is rising, our leaders should level with us about defence

The government stands up and delivers a budget every year to inform us about the economy. Why don’t we do the same for national security, asks Erin Molan.

My good old Dad, former Senator Jim Molan, used to say “How do we prepare to fight a war we don’t understand?”

The answer is simple. We can’t.

I’d throw into that equation “How do we get a nation to buy into a National Security Strategy if they don’t understand the threat?”

The majority of Australians are smart and well-informed, but they’re busy. Day-to-day life often gets in the way of the most mundane tasks, let alone dedicating time to understanding the complex geopolitical situation the world now faces, and Australia’s position in it.

So when we need our citizens to understand the complexity of the threats that exist, and accept … maybe even endorse, the sometimes less popular political decisions that are required to keep us safe, what do we do?

Former boss of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo joined me on my Sky News Australia show Erin a couple of weeks ago, and made the very clever point.

Former Home Affairs chief Mike Pezzullo during a Senate enquiry in Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

Just as we wrap up Budget week, why aren’t we doing the same thing for National Security? The number one job of government is to keep its people safe, and, yes, everything else matters, but the stress of the rising cost of living would pale in comparison to the threat of war.

To put it bluntly, the price of your power bill won’t matter if your home gets bombed.

Australian Army soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct morning physical training.

Now, no one is saying that’s a legitimate threat for us in Australia right now, but we are living in the most dangerous period in 80 years, and in case you haven’t noticed, it feels like a war is breaking out somewhere in the world every day.

Pezzullo believes strongly that we need to lead the world in a new approach to national security.

“We have a national budget which is one of the most important events of the political year. The Treasurer stands in the House, during TV prime time, and provides a report to the nation on the economy.”

“It’s not just the night itself that matters, in fact what comes after is almost more important to the process of developing a strong economy.”

“Commentators and analysts have their say, during the evening and in the weeks that follow. “

“The Opposition responds. Democracy is well served, whatever one might think of the government of the day, the budget as a whole, or its specific measures.”

“National security is at least as important, and sometimes it is even more important than the economy (for instance, when there is a prospect of war),” he says.

Defence Minister Richard Marles. Picture: Martin Ollman

Prospect of war … ring a bell?

It should. There is absolutely a frightening prospect of war right now in the Pacific, as if all hostilities already occurring around the world weren’t enough to make you nervous.

In fact Pezzullo has put a number on it. He says there is a 10 per cent chance (at least) of war occurring in our region between now and 2030, and that figure is likely to increase.

So as well as the formulation of a National Security Strategy – a comprehensive one we have desperately needed as a country for decades, why aren’t we investing in bringing the entire nation on board?

It’s really quite simple. Leaders of businesses do it all the time. Get your people to ‘buy in’ and the result you are after is always better.

“The Prime Minister of the day should, once a year, stand in the House, during TV prime time, and deliver a comprehensive statement on the security of the nation,” he tells me.

“This statement should cover the international environment, international security, security in the Indo Pacific, and domestic security; and what is being done, and will be done, across defence, foreign affairs, trade, home affairs, intelligence, law enforcement, and so on, to keep the nation secure and Australians safe.”

We must accept that there will be security elements that can’t be shared for good reason, but that doesn’t mean government should bury its head in the sand and continue hoping like hell America will save us. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but they won’t, particularly if President Trump is returned.

The architect of America’s National Security Policy under his former government, Elbridge Colby, joins me on Sky Friday night and he makes it very clear that ‘America First’ is the plan, just like the position India has pivoted to recently.

So Australia needs to do something substantial, and pronto. Actually develop a comprehensive National Security Strategy, and then inform us and bring us along.

Colby says of the idea, “I think if you actually level with people and are practical about it, people generally have a lot of common sense. I think it’s one of the reasons people appreciate President Trump.”

It almost makes TOO much sense for any government to adopt.

Now, bias aside, and this is likely very self-indulgent, BUT there’s an annual Jim Molan Oration that focuses entirely on Defence and National Security that I am hosting later this year, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaking.

It mightn’t be a bad place to start all of us thinking about – for example – hostilities, fuel, food chains, pharmaceuticals, transport infrastructure, energy, cyber safety – and deciding emphatically that these issues are every bit as important as the dollars and cents in our 2024 Budget.

And as for Dutton’s thoughts IF he were to become our next Prime Minister: “Sounds great. Very Sensible.”

Join me this afternoon at 5pm for ‘Erin” on Sky News Australia, when, along with Elbridge Colby, Kylie Moore-Gilbert is on the show regarding the death of the Iranian President.