July 3, 2026, 9:05 am
Australia’s submarine ambitions depend on one thing money can’t buy overnight: skilled workers. As the AUKUS build ramps up, defence manufacturers are competing for talent in a market already strained by the migration debate.
In this episode of Indo-Pacific Briefing, Professor Rory Medcalf AM, Director of the ANU National Security College, calls on the Prime Minister for a clearer defence strategy beyond AUKUS. And from the factory floor, Graham Priestnall OAM, President of the Australian Industry & Defence Network (SA), explains how classified innovation and workforce certainty go hand in hand for small and medium-sized defence businesses.
#AUKUS #IndoPacific #AustralianDefence #SubmarineProgram #DefenceIndustry #NationalSecurity #ForeignPolicy #AIIA #AustralianPolitics #DefenceStrategy
Content Creator – Australian Institute of International Affairs







