Stewart McCrae, “Once they land find out what they want for them second-hand!” [John Gorton to Malcolm Fraser, referring to four United States Air Force F111s], 1969, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136622610
2025 National Library of Australia Honorary Fellow Dr Andrew Carr discusses his research on the history of Australian defence policy.
During his Fellowship, Dr Carr explored the personal papers of Australian politicians, as well as defence and diplomatic officials from the 1960s to the 1980s, to better understand how they thought about protecting the continent.
In discussing the history of Australia’s defence policy, Dr Carr aims to address the shortfalls in our understanding of both the policy and the way the nation’s elite have considered the geography of this nation.
Attend in person
Entry to this event is free but bookings are essential.
Watch online
The conversation will also be available online. Please make a booking and we will send you a direct link to the livestream event via email. Or you can join through the Library’s YouTube channel .
About Dr Andrew Carr
Andrew Carr is a Senior Lecturer in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University. His research focuses on Strategy and Australian Defence Policy. He has published widely and has a sole authored book with Melbourne University Press, as well as edited books with Oxford University Press and Georgetown University Press. He is currently a member of the ANU-Defence Strategic Policy History Project, writing a history of Australian Defence White Papers from 1976-2020.
Andrew’s current research is concerned with the question of how a country as large and diverse as Australia can be defended. Since the 1970s, this has been the formal primary task of the Australian Defence Force. However, Australian views on their security, as well as scholarly attention, have remained focused on overseas deployments and alliance relationships. This has led to shortfalls in our understanding of both Australian defence policy and the way the nation’s elite have thought about the geography of Australia.
His Fellowship research will also inform the central chapters of a longer, comprehensive history of Australian defence policy, with a focus on territorial security.
Learn more about National Library Fellowships.
The Details
What: Defending Australian Territory with Dr Andrew Carr at the National Library
When: Wednesday 17 September from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Where: National Library of Australia
Cost: Free but bookings are essential. Tickets available on the National Library of Australia website.
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