Labor’s Defence Debacle: Australia Unprepared in 2025, By James Reed

 Labor's landslide victory in the 2025 federal election, securing 53% two-party-preferred and at least 86 seats, has handed Anthony Albanese a mandate to govern—but at what cost to Australia's security? From a Christian conservative nationalist perspective, Labor's defence strategy, marked by stagnant spending, delayed projects, and CCP-friendly diplomacy, leaves Australia dangerously exposed to growing Indo-Pacific threats. The Liberal Party's implosion, with Peter Dutton losing Dickson and the Coalition haemorrhaging seats, offers no counterweight. As Donald Trump's America First agenda and China's regional ambitions loom, Labor's complacency risks a national security crisis. Only a church-backed minor party alliance can force accountability and prepare Australia for a black swan event, such as World War III. A blockade of the Singapore trade route would lead to Australia running out of petrol and disease in less than two weeks, some X posts estimate, and China's recent warship ventures into sovereign waters uncontested, shows that China can do this.

Labor's Defence Failures

Labor's defence record since 2022, reaffirmed in its 2025 campaign, is a litany of underinvestment and inaction:

Stagnant Spending: Labor's 2025 budget commits just 2.1% of GDP to defence, below NATO's 2.5% benchmark and far short of the Coalition's proposed 3% by 2035. Over $80 billion in projects—frigates, drones, missile systems—have been cut or delayed, per Liberal claims, with most funding pushed beyond 2029.

AUKUS Inertia: Despite inheriting AUKUS, Labor has failed to fast-track nuclear submarine delivery, critical for deterring China's naval expansion. The first Virginia-class sub won't arrive until 2035, and domestic production lags, as noted by ASPI.

Port of Darwin Risk: Labor's unfulfilled promise to revoke China's Landbridge lease of the Port of Darwin leaves a strategic chokepoint vulnerable, especially after the 2025 Chinese warship circumnavigation.

Recruitment Crisis: ADF recruitment times have ballooned to over 300 days, with a 12% personnel shortfall (5,000 troops) undermining readiness.

These failures, coupled with Albanese's downplaying of China's 2025 naval provocation, as previously discussed, reflect a CCP-friendly posture. Penny Wong's potential exit as Foreign Minister, with Richard Marles tipped to replace her, signals further instability.

The China and Trump Threat

The Indo-Pacific is a powder keg, and Labor's defence lethargy leaves Australia exposed:

China's Aggression: The 2024 CSIS wargame showed a PLA fuel blockade could halt 60% of Australia's fuel imports from Singapore, crippling the economy within weeks. China's control of 85% of iron ore exports and three port leases amplifies this threat.

Trump's Unpredictability: Trump's America First shift, flagged by Andrew Hastie, risks weakening the U.S. alliance. His 10% tariff threat, though paused, rattled voters, and Labor's "warm" talks with Trump lack concrete exemptions.

A 2023 RAND report warned Pine Gap could be targeted in a U.S.-China conflict, while a Carrington-level EMP event—12–18% chance by 2030—could collapse the unprotected grid. Labor's failure to harden infrastructure or diversify fuel are further weaknesses.

The Liberals' 2025 rout—29% primary vote, losing Dickson and key seats like Sturt—renders them irrelevant. Dutton's $21 billion defence boost, aiming for 2.5% GDP by 2030, was drowned out by his Trumpian missteps, like the Indonesia bomber gaffe. Internal sabotage and Teal-chasing, as George Christensen noted, alienated their Christian base, driving 6.2% to One Nation and 2% to Trumpet of Patriots. The Liberals' failure to hammer Labor on defence, despite posts on X decrying Labor's "feeble" military, left the issue sidelined.

Defence barely registered in the 2025 campaign, overshadowed by cost-of-living and housing. Labor's $8.5 billion Medicare pledge and $150 energy rebates dominated, while their defence platform—vague promises to "continue AUKUS" and reach 2.3% GDP by 2033—was barely scrutinised. Former Major General Mick Ryan called the campaign "underwhelming" on defence, with neither party educating voters on its importance. Labor's WeChat dominance, securing 65–70% of Chinese-Australian votes, and urban focus drowned out regional concerns about security.

Minor parties—One Nation, Australian Christians, Trumpet of Patriots—are Australia's last hope to hold Labor accountable. Their 10–12% vote, with 65–70% preferences to the Coalition, shows potential. A "Menzies Pact," as previously outlined, could unite them on sovereignty and defence, targeting seats like Flynn (12% One Nation) and Reid (10% minor party vote):

Church Mobilisation: With 5 million Christians, churches can register 500,000 voters and push candidates who prioritise ADF funding and grid resilience, citing Proverbs 22:3. The 2017 plebiscite's 38% "No" vote proves their power.

Digital Campaign: Christensen's 50,000-subscriber platform and X can amplify warnings of CCP risks, countering Labor's WeChat grip.

Computer analysis projects a 55–65% chance of a hung parliament by 2028 if preferences align, with minor parties winning 5–10 seats.

Labor's defence failures are a spiritual betrayal, trading God's protection for secular complacency and CCP appeasement. Psalm 127:1 warns, "Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." Minor parties, rooted in faith, must rally believers to demand a strong ADF, secure ports, and EMP-proof infrastructure. A black swan—blockade, attack, or EMP—could expose Labor's weaknesses, but only if conservatives are ready.

Labor's 2025 defence strategy—underfunded, delayed, and CCP-tolerant—leaves Australia vulnerable to China, Trump's volatility, and black swan crises. The Liberals' collapse demands a minor party alliance, backed by churches, to force minority governments and restore security. Christensen's voice and the faithful must rise to save the nation before it's too late.