Australia is on track to spend more on defence than at any time since the Vietnam War, yet the return on that investment is poor. The 2024-25 federal budget allocated $52.7 billion to defence - slightly over 2 per cent of GDP - and this figure is expected to rise sharply as the AUKUS submarine program and other major projects ramp up.

For a nation of 27 million people, this is a substantial commitment. But for all the billions spent, the capability delivered to the men and women in uniform remains modest at best. Delays, overruns and bureaucratic inertia have become the hallmarks of Australian defence procurement.

A major reason is structural. The Defence organisation has become top-heavy with senior military and civilian executives. Australia, with around 240 one-star and above military

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