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RO YAL RO U YAL U N I N T E S D E S I L E A R T W V I C H E T E S U O I N S S S D T W I E T N U F T E O E L S E A R W V I H C T E U S O I S N S W T E I T N U F T O E RO YAL U N IT E S D E S L E A R W V I H C T E U S O I N S S W T E I T N U F T O E United Service Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, New South Wales, Incorporated Informing the defence and national security debate since 1947 Volume 72, Number 1, March 2021 – ISSN 1038-1554 CONTENTS NEWS CONTRIBUTED ESSAY President’s Column – Michael Hough...............................2 Forward operating bases: is there a place for them in Australia’s new defence strategy? – David Leece and Ian Wolfe .........................................17 OPINION Australia’s defence posture has been refocused on our immediate region, but with the intent of holding any potential Editorial: Strategic challenges ahead for Australia – enemy forces as far from the Australian mainland as is practicable. David Leece..........................................................................3 A similar strategy in World War II saw Australia deploying operating bases in the Indonesian-Melanesian archipelago. This paper examines that experience, compares more successful with INSTITUE PROCEEDINGS less successful uses of forward bases [Norfolk Island is used as an example of the former], and seeks to draw enduring lessons The 2020 Sir Hermann Black Lecture from that experience for Australia’s current defence. A year of crisis: climate, coronavirus and China – Hervé Lemahieu ...............................................................4 The three challenges with the greatest bearing on Australia’s BOOK REVIEWS security and prosperity each came to a head in 2020, viz. climate An Australian band of brothers: Don Company, change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and China. The world has Second 43rd Battalion, 9th Division: Tobruk, Alamein, become poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly. Post the New Guinea, Borneo by Mark Johnston – reviewed by pandemic, Australia’s ability to project itself globally will start with its strength and vitality at home. Its favourable geography Marcus Fielding..................................................................23 gives it the potential to become a leader in renewables. This book follows, in particular, three Australian infantrymen Given our geopolitical challenges, this is a strategic imperative. who served throughout World War II in D Company, 2/43rd Yet, for now, the gap between reality and expectations has never Battalion, 24th Brigade, 9th Division, AIF. been greater. Pathfinder, ‘kriegie’ and gumboot governor: the The Australian Defence Force’s response to the adventurous life of Sir James Rowland AC, KBE, bushfire and COVID-19 crises of 2020 DFC, AFC by Air Marshal Sir James Rowland and Dr – Kathryn Campbell............................................................10 Peter Yule – reviewed by Bob Treloar .............................24 The Australian Army’s 2nd Division is responsible for leading James Rowland was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) domestic operations and did so during the 2020 bushfire and bomber pilot in World War II. Post-war, he became a RAAF test COVID-19 pandemic crises. The Division’s commander describes pilot, Chief of the Air Staff, and Governor of New South Wales. the Australian Defence Force’s joint response to the two crises, the command and control arrangements, and interactions with China’s grand strategy and Australia’s future in the civilian agencies and the wider community. Concurrently, the new global order by Geoff Raby – reviewed by David Division continued to fulfil its other operational and readiness Leece ..................................................................................25 training responsibilities. China is shaping a new global order based on its own interests. To understand China’s role one needs to view the world Improving resilience in Australia – Keith Suter ..........14 from Beijing’s perspective and the grand strategy it is pursuing. Over the past century, economic theory and public policy based thereon has oscillated between big and small government, China as a twenty-first century naval power: theory, with economic rationalism now the driving force. Unintended practice, and implications by Michael A. McDevitt – consequences, including an unequal society, have resulted. New reviewed by Ian Pfennigwerth...........................................26 thinking is required informed by scenario planning. Using the McDevitt has made a reasoned contribution to our latter, we could plan for the future knowing we could cope with understanding of China’s 21st century naval power. As he points whatever it might hold. out, China’s warships are not ‘coming’, they are already ‘here’. FRONT COVER: Commander of Joint Task Group 629.4, Colonel Graham Goodwin CSC, speaks with South Australia Police during a visit to a border crossing checkpoint in Renmark, South Australia, during Operation COVID-19 Assist. Major General Kathryn Campbell describes the operation at pp. 10 – 13. [Photo: Department of Defence]. United Service 72 (1) March 2021 Page 1 United Service Royal United Services Institute for Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies Defence and Security Studies New South Wales, Incorporated Informing the defence and national security debate since 1947 New South Wales Promoting understanding of defence and national security Editor: Dr David Leece, AM, PSM, RFD, ED since 1888 Business Manager: Mr Graham Brown, BEc (Sydney), MBus (UTS), FFin Patron: Her Excellency, The Honourable Margaret Beasley, Editorial Advisory Committee: AC, QC, Governor of New South Wales Dr David Leece, AM, PSM, RFD, ED – chair President: Professor Michael Hough, AM, RFD, ED Mr Ken Broadhead, OAM, RFD Secretary: Mr Steve Bell Dr Ian Pfennigwerth Treasurer: Mr Graham Brown, BEc (Sydney), MBus (UTS), FFin Air Vice-Marshal Bob Treloar, AO, RAAFAR United Service is published quarterly. It seeks to inform the President’s Column defence and national security debate in Australia and to bring an Australian perspective to that debate internationally. To this end, I want to recognise both the significance the journal publishes papers presented at meetings and seminars of our journal to the central task of the organised by the Institute. Contributed papers dealing with Institute, which can be paraphrased as “to defence and national security issues or military history also will inform and promote debate about defence- be published, together with relevant opinion pieces, letters to the related issues”, and thank and honour the editor, biographies, obituaries and book reviews. Before significant editorial team who work under acceptance, contributions are refereed and edited. our Journal Editor, Dr David Leece AM PSM Contributions, which conform to the journal’s style, should be RFD ED, and whose names are listed in addressed to the Editor at [email protected]. Papers column 1. The consistently excellent quality of our journal is normally should not exceed 3500 words and may include one or a true highlight, and in my term as President, I am committed two illustrations, and a brief biography and photo of the author. to ensuring that our journal continues to both flourish and Opinion pieces, biographies, obituaries and book reviews should evolve. not exceed 850 words, guest editorials 400 words and letters 200 We have been publishing the journal online and available words. Submission of an article implies that the article has not gratis to a global audience since March 2008. Over the last been published elsewhere and also implies transfer of the 13 years, the rapid acceptance of online-based activities has copyright from the author to the publisher. Notes for contributors led to United Service becoming more widely accessible and are at www.rusinsw.org.au. its papers are now being downloaded by readers on every Copyright: This work is copyright. The Copyright Act 1968 continent. Global search engines quickly draw the global permits fair dealing for study, research, news, reporting, criticism community’s attention to the ideas and issues included in our and review. Selected passages may be reproduced for such journal, and we now have the opportunity to seek contribu - purposes, provided acknowledgement of the source is included. tions and viewpoints from a much wider cohort of potential Otherwise, articles published in this journal may not be readers and contributors. reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any The journal, however, faces challenges. We need to form by electronic or mechanical means, photocopying or improve the journal’s value proposition to ensure its recording, either in whole or in part, without the written continuation and growth. We need to ask how we can better permission of the Editor. develop the journal so that it appeals to younger client groups Publishers: United Service is published by the Royal United raised on a social-media based (as distinct from a print- Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, New South based) relationship with publications and ideas; build trust Wales, Incorporated, ABN 80 724 654 162, PO Box A778, relationships with serving Australian Defence Force Sydney South NSW 1235. members so more of them contribute to the journal; better Typesetter: Mrs Marilou Carceller; Email: [email protected]. engage with the Department of Defence and the network of Subscriptions: United Service is published online on the defence industries such that they come to support the Institute’s website at www.rusinsw.org.au. Members also receive Journal as an asset; and better engage with university and the journal via email at no additional charge. The subscription for professional groups who can contribute to the defence non-members to receive the journal by email is $40 per year and debate. can be arranged through the Business Manager at the Institute’s We also need to ask how we should work with the Royal office.