Andrew Hastie, the Australian Shadow Minister for Defence is a man who knows the all too human price of freedom. Serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, he saw action in special operations in Afghanistan. Since his election to the Australian Parliament, he has devoted himself to issues of national security, foreign policy, defence, security, and intelligence.

More than perhaps any other global politician, his rise in Australian politics has gone hand-in-hand with a recognition and warning of the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. His early career saw him repeatedly attack for these warnings, branded “Cold War” rhetoric. Yet, in the intervening years, each of these positions has been vindicated.

As the British Conservative Party selects its next leader, Andrew Hastie will join HJS to discuss the threats facing the West and the ideals it represents. Latika Bourke, the London-based correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, will interview him on these crucial topics.

Andrew Hastie MP was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Defence in June 2022. Prior to this, he served as the Assistant Minister for Defence under the Morrison Government. He also previously chaired the Australian Parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Before entering politics, as the Federal Member for Canning, Mr Hastie was served in the Australian Army’s Special Air Squadron Regiment, where he was deployed to Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea. He previously spoke on the challenges posed to the West by the Chinese Communist Party at a Henry Jackson Society roundtable in 2019. His remarks were later adapted into an op-ed published in the Sydney Morning Herald, entitled ‘We Must See China with Clear Eyes’. In response to its publication, Mr Hastie was banned from entering China.

Latika Bourke is an Australian author and journalist. She writes for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and in the past has worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and 2UE. She has written extensively on geopolitics, the rise of China, and the Australia-UK relationship. She has been based in the UK for several years and is amongst the best connected figures in Westminster.

***

EVENT SUMMARY

The Henry Jackson Society was pleased to hold a discussion on global security and Australian domestic and foreign policy with The Rt Hon Andrew Hastie MP and Latika Bourke. Dr Mendoza began the conversation by introducing the speakers, followed by Latika Bourke who touched on the UK’s security settings. Andrew Hastie MP discussed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on security, particularly regarding the relations with China. He also highlighted the characteristics of the ORCA’s agreement, directly linked to the pandemic. Andrew Hastie MP then answered Latika Bourke’s questions on the difficulty of the deals regarding nuclear submarines, the recent elections in Australia, and his vision of the efficiency of the British and European support to Ukraine.

This event was pre-recorded.

Thank you.

#HJSEvents