2016 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

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CHAPTER THREE: AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE STRATEGY
Australia’s Strategic Defence Framework
SECTION ONE STRATEGY
A secure, resilient
Australia, with secure
northern approaches and
proximate sea lines of
communication.
Strategic Defence Interests
A secure nearer region,
encompassing maritime
South East Asia and the
South Pacific.
A stable Indo-Pacific
region and a
rules-based global order.
Strategic Defence Objectives
Deter, deny and defeat
attacks on or threats to
Australia and its national
interests, and northern
approaches.
Make effective military
contributions to support
the security of maritime
South East Asia and
support the governments
of Papua New Guinea,
Timor-Leste and of Pacific
Island Countries to build
and strengthen their
security.
Contribute military
capabilities to coalition
operations that support
Australia’s interests in a
rules-based global order.
Strategic Defence Interests
3.4 The Strategic Defence Interests drive Australia’s defence strategy.
They set out that sub-set of Australia’s national interests in a secure
and prosperous Australia for which the Government may want to use
its military power and guide the future development of Defence’s
capabilities.
A secure, resilient Australia, with secure northern approaches
and proximate sea lines of communication
3.5 Our most basic Strategic Defence Interest is a secure, resilient Australia.
This means a nation protected against attack or the threat of attack