Dibb Report
Encyclopedia
The Review of Australia's Defence Capabilities, better known as the Dibb Report, was an influential review of Australia's defence plans. While the report's recommendations were not fully accepted by the Hawke Government, they lead to significant changes in Australia's defence policy, including adoption of the Defence of Australia Policy
.
Kim Beazley
commissioned Paul Dibb, who was an external consultant and former member of the Department of Defence
, to analyse Australia's defence planning and make recommendations for future developments. Dibb's report was published in March 1986 and recommended that Australia abandon the remaining elements of the Forward defence
policy and concentrate its military resources on the geographic areas relevant to defending the country and its economic interests from direct attack.
Paul Dibb's recommendations were based around an assessment that "Australia is one of the most secure countries on earth" and that while there was the potential for regional conflict, the longer term intentions and capabilities of countries in Australia's region could not be predicted and as such did not form a suitable basis for planning. Dibb recommended that Australia's military posture be based on a strategy of denying aggressors the ability to attack the country. This was to be achieved through using a layered defence of over-the-horizon radar
, patrol aircraft and maritime strike aircraft to protect Australia's approaches with the Army's Operational Deployment Force being responsible for defeating any landings on the Australian mainland. This would require changes to the Australian Defence Force's
force structure and equipment acquisition programs. The policy of self-reliance proposed by Dibb also placed less emphasis on Australia's alliance with the United States
than previous policies.
The Defence of Australia, but the Government did not adopt some of Dibb's key recommendations such as those concerning Australia's relationship with the United States and the Australian military's role in the Pacific.
Defence of Australia Policy
The Defence of Australia Policy was Australia's dominant defence policy between 1972 and 1997. The policy was focused on the defence of continental Australia against external attack...
.
Background
In February 1985 the Minister for DefenceMinister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
commissioned Paul Dibb, who was an external consultant and former member of the Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
, to analyse Australia's defence planning and make recommendations for future developments. Dibb's report was published in March 1986 and recommended that Australia abandon the remaining elements of the Forward defence
Forward defence
The forward defence is one of the most commonly used shots in cricket.Played to a good length ball, the batsman attempts to defend his wicket by smothering the ball before it has had much opportunity to spin or move off the seam...
policy and concentrate its military resources on the geographic areas relevant to defending the country and its economic interests from direct attack.
Paul Dibb's recommendations were based around an assessment that "Australia is one of the most secure countries on earth" and that while there was the potential for regional conflict, the longer term intentions and capabilities of countries in Australia's region could not be predicted and as such did not form a suitable basis for planning. Dibb recommended that Australia's military posture be based on a strategy of denying aggressors the ability to attack the country. This was to be achieved through using a layered defence of over-the-horizon radar
Jindalee Operational Radar Network
The Jindalee Operational Radar Network is an over-the-horizon radar network that can monitor air and sea movements across 37,000 km2. It has an official range of 3,000 km. It is used in the defence of Australia and can also monitor maritime operations, wave heights and wind directions...
, patrol aircraft and maritime strike aircraft to protect Australia's approaches with the Army's Operational Deployment Force being responsible for defeating any landings on the Australian mainland. This would require changes to the Australian Defence Force's
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
force structure and equipment acquisition programs. The policy of self-reliance proposed by Dibb also placed less emphasis on Australia's alliance with the United States
ANZUS
The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defence matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks...
than previous policies.
Reception
The Dibb Report received a mixed response. Some experts regarded it as being an important contribution to developing an independent Australian defence posture. Other experts criticised the report for calling for an essentially defensive military strategy, implying that existing Australian military capabilities be abandoned and making optimistic assumptions about the period of time which would be available to detect and respond to new threats to Australia. Many of the Dibb Report's assumptions were used in developing the 1987 Defence white paperWhite paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
The Defence of Australia, but the Government did not adopt some of Dibb's key recommendations such as those concerning Australia's relationship with the United States and the Australian military's role in the Pacific.