International affairs is having a big impact on national politics in Australia. The ongoing war in Ukraine, questions about the relationship between Australia and China, and the Albanese government's decision to recognise Palestine at the United Nations in September have arguably elevated international events well above domestic policy issues at this moment in the political debate.

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It was within this context that the Defence Force recently announced that it has enjoyed a boost in recruitment.

According to data released earlier this month, more than 1800 more people joined Defence compared to last year. The organisation touted that the last financial year saw the highest number of people join the permanent and reserve forces in 15 years.

Despite this outcome, there remain some important questions that must be addressed as Defence aims to grow the force to its target of 69,000 by the 2030s.

At the national level, maintaining the health of Australia's democratic system has become a high-profile issue. As an organisation, Defence's mission is to focus on defending the country and its interests, while enhancing the nation's "security and prosperity".

There have also been efforts to strengthen democracy by agencies focused within Australia.

Recognising that democracy was valuable and required nurturing were key themes of a report published in 2024 by the Department of Home Affairs. In it, the department highlighted how factors such as foreign interference, artificial intelligence, and misinformation and disinformation could erode democratic ideals.

While Defence and the Department of Home Affairs emphasise the........

© Canberra Times