Originally Posted by
Lookleft
True and that goes all the way back to WW1 when two votes to introduce conscription were voted down. It doesn't mean Australia just says we are too far to worry about anyone invading us so lets not have an effective defense force. NZ should start to understand that defense capability can take longer to establish than the geo-political situation will give you time to do so.
Yep. Been understood for some time..
Back in 1937 a Mr John Curtin, Federal Leader of the Australian Labor Party, said:
”..Australia cannot depend on the so-called Australian Navy..”
The full article offers a the background to that comment….
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148319333