RSL Defence and National Security Committee

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

The RSL Defence and National Security Committee is an advisory Committee that provides discussion and position papers to the RSL National Board to assist with advocacy on defence matters. The National Board then prepares submissions to Government on matters pertaining to defence and national security in furtherance of the Objects of the League at Rule 4.f.

Terms of Reference

Guiding Principles 

The RSL Defence and National Security Committee aims to be proactive, with a long-term strategic view to support decisions for today and tomorrow's ADF, and the security of Australia. 

Matters for discussion should:

  • Deal with Australia’s Defence policy, preparedness, industrial base or the welfare of personnel

  • Be couched positively and constructively with suggestions for improvement

  • Be developed with a reasonable level of consultation to ensure their quality.

Issues Papers should clearly articulate:

  • The issue or problem

  • Why it matters

  • Why is the RSL interested and why its insights would be valuable

  • Suggestions/options to address the issue

  • A way forward

  • The consultation that has been undertaken in developing the paper.

Committee Members

  • Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC (Retd)

  • Major General Greg Melick AO RFD FANZCN SC (Retd)

  • Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO (Retd)

  • Tim Morris AM APM (AFP Retd)

  • VADM Peter Jones, AO DSC RAN (Retd)

  • Brigadier Philip Winter, AM, CSC, ADC

  • Lieutenant Colonel Clare O’Neill (Observer)

  • Professor John Blaxland

  • Don Spinks AM

  • John Powers

Impact of the Defence and National Security Committee

  • Defence flaws make Australia a 'strategic liability' for the US

    2 August 2024

    The RSL Defence and National Security Committee questions Australia’s preparedness to fulfil our international treaty obligations and the ability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to meet current and potential future missions. 

    Published in The Australian. Written by Committee members Peter Leahy and John Powers.

    Read article

  • Adapting to Poly-crisis: A proposed Australian National Security Strategy

    28 May 2024

    We face a poly-crisis involving overlapping demands relating to changing climate; cleaner, greener industry; stretched health services; deepening geopolitical shifts; accelerating technological transformation, increasingly autonomous systems; and growing challenges in governing cosmopolitan societies. This paper argues that in response An Australian National Security Strategy is needed.

    Read paper

  • AUKUS is all there is. There is no Plan B.

    17 April 2024

    “AUKUS was an inspired decision. It is the right choice for Australia. Given the geo-strategic situation and the forces arrayed against us, there are no alternatives. So now we must make it work.”
    Written by Committee member Peter Leahy.

    Read now

  • The lucky country is girt by sea no more

    13 April 2024

    “An assault on our homeland is not merely a possibility - it’s an inevitable reality.”

    Written by Committee member John Powers and published by Fairfax Media.

    Read now

  • VADM Peter Jones - ANI Webinar

    18 March 2024

    Committee member VADM Peter Jones hosted the ANI Webinar 18 Mar: Surface Fleet Review, in which experts unpacked the Government’s announcement of the most significant force expansion since WWII.

    Learn more

  • RSL welcomes Surface Fleet Review

    24 February 2024

    The Australian Naval Institute published in full the RSL media release on the surface combatants. It was included in their weekly newsletter and on their social media accounts.

    Read now

  • Terror mindset warped strategy

    29 January 2024

    “Ongoing unrest, combined with rapid technological advances, compels us to once again get strategic.”
    Written by Committee member John Powers and published by Fairfax Media.

    Read now

  • SUBMISSION TO THE 2024 INDEPENDENT INTELLIGENCE REVIEW

    November 2023

    The RSL has made recommendations to Government for an intelligence community that is more unified, with a leaner bureaucracy and a concept for strategic assessments that will support defence and national security strategies, and enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, whilst also ensuring we have sufficient indications and warning to defend against attacks by land, sea, air, cyber and space.

    Read the submission

Do you have an issue you’d like the committee to discuss? 

Send the National President your thoughts on Defence and national security matters.

Please review the Guiding Principles above and then submit your item to the RSL Defence and National Security Committee using the form below: