2024 National Defence Strategy and 2024 Integrated Investment Program

The Australian Government released the 2024 National Defence Strategy and 2024 Integrated Investment Program on 17 April 2024. The NDS details the government’s approach to addressing Australia’s most significant risks, including the threat of conflict and the prospect of coercion. The Strategy of Denial is now the cornerstone of Defence planning.

The Strategy of Denial is designed to deter a potential adversary from taking actions against Australia’s interests and regional stability. The National Defence Strategy is based on the concept of ‘National Defence’, a coordinated, whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach that harnesses all aspects of national power to defend Australia and its interests.

National Defence complements broader whole-of-government initiatives aimed at supporting:

  • integrated statecraft
  • national resilience
  • industry resilience
  • supply chain resilience
  • innovation, science and technology
  • workforce and skills base
  • robust national intelligence community.
     
An Airforce staff member in uniform and non ADF staff member in business casual attire sitting at a table both looking at a digital tablet. The ADF staff member is scrolling on the tablet screen while other staff member is smiling.

Defence APS staff work alongside Australia Defence Force members.
Image: Defence

As a key element of National Defence, the government is making investments over the next decade to shift the Australian Defence Force to an integrated, focused force designed to address Australia’s most significant strategic risks. The Integrated Investment Program sets out the specific capabilities the government will invest in to support the NDS.

These changes to the ADF will see Australia become more capable and self-reliant. Defence’s international engagement efforts will focus on enhancing interoperability and collective deterrence.

With capability needs continuing to evolve, Defence will focus on recruiting, retaining and growing its highly specialised and skilled workforce. There will be important roles for the Australian Public Service workforce across government to contribute to National Defence.

The focus is on upskilling and professionalising the APS workforce to further reduce reliance on contracted staff and develop the agile APS workforce required to meet future capability needs. The government is also prioritising the targeted recruitment of APS personnel with skills and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related fields and project management to support the delivery of the National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program.

The Australian Government will update the strategy, investment program and associated plans every 2 years. This update will replace periodic white papers. This allows defence policy to keep pace with the rapidly evolving strategic environment and ensure national efforts address the most pressing government priorities by aligning strategy, capability and resources.

Find out more

Australian Government (n.d.) 2024 National Defence Strategy and 2024 Integrated Investment Program, Defence website, accessed 11 July 2024.

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