Why Hasn’t the Australian Public Been Told?

Extracts from the 2023 Defence Strategic Review:
“Army’s combat brigades must be reroled and select capabilities postured in northern Australia.”
“Australia’s Army must be able to provide close-combat capabilities, including a single armoured combined-arms brigade, able to meet the most demanding land challenges in our region.”

In the Government’s response later that year, it was stated that: “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade”.

That was nineteen months ago, yet the positioning of an armoured combat brigade in Townsville, has still not been achieved.

Surprisingly, few people are aware of this.

One has to wonder why the Australian public is not being kept properly informed of the state of our defence preparedness. Presumably it’s in the Government’s interest (and that of Defence) to minimise any shortcomings, allowing time for problems to be fixed (or ignored completely).

Usually, an armoured brigade’s key units would be a tank regiment, a cavalry (reconnaissance) regiment, and a mechanised infantry battalion.

The Chief of Army has decided, however, to strip 1st Armoured Regiment of its tanks and employ it on other duties; leaving 2nd Cavalry Regiment as the only armoured unit in Townsville.

This means that 3 Brigade has only two tank squadrons and two cavalry squadrons available to it, rather than three of each as normal.

Another limitation is that the brigade can only deploy two, rather than three, battlegroup headquarters.

The combat power of 3 Brigade is weakened considerably in these circumstances.

This seems particularly surprising, given the current strategic outlook.

A recent book by recognised authorities on Australia’s defence strategy, argues that “Australia is facing its most challenging security environment since the Second World War”. This is underscored by Professor Geoffrey Blainey who is of the opinion that “This is probably the world’s most perilous time since the end of the Cold War in 1990”.

In order for it to be brought up to strength as an armoured brigade, 1st Armoured Regiment would have to be reformed as a combat unit in Townsville.

Although this is something that has been strongly called for by veterans, there is no indication that it is likely to happen (at least not in the near term).

The CA seems fixated in his desire to have 1st Armoured Regiment, after 75 years-service to the nation operating tanks, remain a non-combatant.

So, what’s this mean for the defence strategy formulated under the DSR, and more recently, the National Defence Strategy (NDS)?

Following on from the need to focus on high-end warfare, “strengthening our northern bases” is one of the immediate priorities stipulated in the latter.

So how is it possible for Defence to simply ignore the government’s direction for an armoured brigade to be based in Townsville?

Given the number of media reports, could it be a matter of there not being sufficient accommodation? (this could be a factor holding up the redeployment of RHQ 1 Armd Regt, given that a high percentage would be married).

Exercise ‘Talisman Sabre 2025’ is to be conducted in Townsville in July. The Minister for Defence has stated that 1st Armoured Regiment is to be involved in its ‘emerging technologies’ role.

So, there is nothing planned in terms of 3 Brigade from that viewpoint.

Maybe it’s unsurprising that nobody knows if Defence intends to honour the government’s direction that an armoured brigade be based in Townsville.

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

 

FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

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