‘Not worth defending’: Aussies divided over war service

“If war broke out tomorrow, would you fight to defend Australia?”

A handful of men were asked this question on the streets of Melbourne last week, with some admitting they would not stand at arms for the nation.

In a video conservative journalist Fred Pawle posted to his social media feeds, the responses captured a cross-section of attitudes to war and patriotism.

“I would not, no,” one man replied.

“I couldn’t tell you why but I’m not much of a fighter, so I wouldn’t be that useful to you.”

He was pressed with a second question: “But is Australia worth defending do you think?”

“Not in its current state, no,” the man replied.

Another man also said he would not fight, adding “I’m not a believer in war”.

There were a few patriots, however, who did not hesitate to say they would be on the front lines if called to combat.

“Yeah f***ing oath I would. I’d be on the front line,” one man said.

“Australia straight away … and who wouldn’t defend their own country?” said another.

Some were more on the fence and said their political views could sway their involvement.

“Maybe depends if conscription’s a thing,” one said.

“I guess it depends on what the context of the war is, whether I feel like it was worth it to stand up and defend it.”

**WARNING: Offensive language

Mr Pawle had suggested earlier in the video that Australia could one day be drawn into the war between Ukraine and Russia.

It followed a similar post he recorded in Sydney earlier in May, in which most people asked said they would fight for Australia.

The war in Ukraine has raged for more than two years now, stretching more than 830 days, since Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine has been supported by the west in the form of funding, weapons and training, but it remains unclear if other nations would physically join the conflict due to the threat posed by Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

But earlier this year Curtin University Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies Dr Alexey Muraviev said Australia should considering reintroducing conscription due to the threat of “all-out-war” with Russia.

Officials from other NATO nations, such as Sweden, have also recently spoken about the need to lay foundations for mobilisation in the event of a major war.

The UK’s unpopular plan

Young people in the UK would have no choice but to join the military for up to 12 months under an election policy by beleaguered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

He believes national service – also known as conscription – would “create a shared sense of ­purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country”.

The announcement of compulsory public service for 18-year-olds was met with outrage and derision from the public, and described as “bonkers” by an ex-military chief.

Mr Sunak was laughed at for saying national service would be a “great opportunity” for young people during the first televised debate of the UK election campaign.

Analysts are predicting a wipe-out for the Conservative Party, and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said the opposition had no plans to create “some kind of teenage Dad’s Army”.

ADF to recruit foreigners

In Australia, the Federal Government has announced foreign nationals from certain countries will be able to join the defence force in a plan to boost numbers.

Under the recruitment scheme, permanent residents must have lived in Australia for at least one year and not served in another military for two years prior to applying.

Successful recruits would be eligible for Australian citizenship after 90 days of service.

New Zealanders who live in Australia will be able to enlist from July, and permanent residents from the UK, the US and Canada from January 2025.

Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said it was hoped the expansion of recruitment options would boost enlistment by 350 personnel per year.

He said defence was currently facing a recruitment target shortfall of 4400 people.

“But we do need to grow the defence force and so looking at permanent residents that have already clearly made Australia home, have loyalty to Australia as part of that recruitment pool is a very important way in which we can continue to grow our defence force as we need to.”