prosperous Australia.
It is a massive project!
A new era of forward thinking.
- Truly big-picture stuff.
- We have a national to-do list.
A major infrastructure project.
It's an incredible,
transformative opportunity.
We're spending more than any
government has ever spent.
An extraordinary figure of...
- $ billion.
- $ billion.
- $ billion.
- $ billion.
This is a nation building...
- Nation building.
- Nation building.
- Nation building.
- Nation building.
Nation building.
More than two years in the making,
the much anticipated White Paper
is due to be unveiled next week.
The security of Australia
is the most fundamental
responsibility of Government.
This is a national endeavour.
With the Prime Minister is describing it
as a blueprint for national security,
not just for now but
for the next decade.
It's getting out of hand, Katie.
emails overnight.
You're a busy man.
- Yeah, but it's mostly junk and spam.
- You want me to get rid of them?
No, no. I want them sorted.
I need to know what's
priority and what's junk.
What's personal?
I don't get many personal
emails on this account.
- What about that one?
- It's an ad for Viagra.
So, you don't know that lady?
- No.
- How does she know you?
- It's spam.
- Personal spam?
No, it's just spam.
- I'll speak to Courtney.
- Just some sort of system.
Oh, and Dennis is here today.
Dennis?
For our risk and safety assessment.
We just did a risk and
safety assessment.
- Last year.
- He was here a whole week.
All we ended up with was a huge
folder that no one's ever read.
- But the folder needs to be updated.
- Why?
- New building.
- No.
- It's a legal requirement.
- All right.
- But Dennis?
- I thought you liked him.
- What?
- I remember.
You said, "That's a guy I could
sure spend more time with."
- I was being sarcastic.
- Were you?
- Yeah.
- Oh, and Jim rang back.
- He wants to catch up this morning.
- Great.
- Sarcastic?
- Yeah.
- o'clock?
- Perfect.
Yeah.
- Still
- Yep.
(SIGHS)
COURTNEY: Knock, knock.
Nat, you remember Dennis.
Of course. Hi, Dennis.
Dennis is back to do our safety audit.
Oh, yeah. Uh, didn't we just do one?
DENNIS: New building.
Is this yours?
- Yeah.
- On your desk?
It's a desk fan.
- I knew a bloke once, just like you.
- I'm not a bloke.
Thought it was okay to balance
a blow-heater on a windowsill.
A few days later, bang.
Office burnt to the ground.
- Oh, my God.
- It can happen.
And was the man okay?
Ah, well, there's another story.
Courtney, I'm just in the
middle of something important.
Oh, yep. Why don't we
start in the basement?
(WHISPERS) You need to get that tagged.
Fine. Thank you.
ASH: Hey, Nat.
Yes.
I've got a Melanie from the PM's office.
- Oh! Sure. I'll grab it.
- Yeah.
- Oh, Ash, would you close my door?
- Mmm.
- (DOOR SHUTS)
- Melanie. It's Nat.
I don't think I've ever
seen a Defence White Paper
in the flesh before.
- Feel the weight.
- Is it bulletproof?
You'd hope so.
Hey, after months, it must be
a relief to finally receive this.
(LAUGHS) Yeah. Tell me about it.
Keep the m*llitary happy
for another decade or so.
- Absolutely.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- So. What's up?
You know what I was
thinking the other day?
- Just, you know, random ideas.
- Yeah.
Just daydreaming.
- Was anyone else there?
- Oh, a few people.
- Just kind of spit-balling.
- Was the Prime Minister there?
- Ooh... I think he might have been.
- Was this a Cabinet meeting?
- Actually, you know, it was.
- Right.
Anyway, PM had a thought.
- You know, with all this spending...
- What is it, $ billion?
- per year.
- . Yeah.
Why not, as a last double-check...
you know, the PM, so details driven,
why not get a third party, someone
with external experience,
ah, to give it one last look-over?
You want us to look at
a Defence White Paper?
- Yep.
- I know nothing about defence.
- Big advantage.
- What?
Fresh eyes.
- Jim, is there a problem?
- No.
- Jim?
- Hm?
Is there a problem?
We don't understand what it's saying.
What?
- No one understands it.
- After ... The Prime Minister?
- National Security Committee?
- Oh, parts of it.
- What about the Defence Minister?
- Ah, he's waving the white flag.
What?
He was a Minister for the
Arts three months ago.
- Would you... This is ridiculous.
- Look, there's no need to panic.
Right. Came as fast as I could. Scooch.
Oh.
Ash, do you know what's
wrong with our toaster?
- Dennis red flagged...
- SCOTT: He red flagged it.
- What?
- Because it's electrical.
- Yeah. That's how toasters work.
- Improperly earthed, Natalie.
We have been using it for months.
Well, Dennis knew a man who
used one of these for years
and then one day, boom.
- Power surge.
- Burnt toast?
Month in hospital.
- What's happened to our knives?
- Cutting hazard.
- Cutting hazard.
- They're knives.
Dennis knew a bloke who reached
into a drawer and severed a finger.
- Right through.
- Blood everywhere.
RHONDA: It starts so well.
JIM: It really does.
This paper explains how the Government
is investing in Australia's
defence capabilities
to strengthen our security
in the years ahead.
- Straight out of the blocks.
- So where's the problem?
From there on.
We all agree this is
a landmark document.
Absolutely.
A real blueprint for national security.
A blueprint the Government
doesn't understand.
Any chance you could give us
a bit of a dummies guide?
Just a couple of talking points for
the PM by the end of the week.
Well, it's only -odd pages.
Should be pretty straightforward.
- Good man.
- Great.
- I think he's being sarcastic.
- Yeah.
- Which bit?
- Just then.
Oh, you need to warn
us if you're doing that.
Oh.
- I agree.
- I told you.
- I don't know anything about defence.
- But we're not after detail,
just a broad sense of
what this thing's all about.
- But anything in particular?
- Yeah, well let's take chapter .
The strategy and security
environment. Yeah?
What does that mean?
- The chapter?
- Yep.
While you're in there, chapter ?
Australia's strategic
defence framework...
See, I had issues with .
I think you'll find everything, ah, you
know, pretty modern building, Dennis.
- I knew a bloke, car dealer...
- Yep.
moved into a brand-new showroom,
tell me he didn't need an audit
but it turns out the bracket of
one of his AC units was faulty.
Long story short, two weeks later,
there's a customer in the showroom.
Bang.
- k*lled him?
- Just missed.
Oh, so a happy ending.
- No, that wasn't the end of it.
Metal shards from the
casing came down and...
Can we put a pin in part ? Um,
Katie, why don't you get Dennis to
have a look around the basement?
- He's already done the basement.
- Second pass, check for shards.
Maybe level one.
- Yeah. There. Yeah.
- I'll go with you.
Thank you, Brian. Great.
(SOFTLY) We can't do this.
Tony, Nat says she's running
about minutes late.
Sure.
Oh, and we've come up
with a system for emails.
We're just going to
print the urgent ones.
I don't need you to print
them out, but... What's this?
- Urgent.
- Urgent sale, bathroom tiles.
- Are you renovating?
- It's spam.
- It said, "Dear valued customer."
- Yeah, but...
I don't want junk email. I
don't want group emails.
I don't want anything unsolicited.
- Just work-related.
- Got it.
From people I know.
- Do you know Dan?
- Dan...?
Murphy?
The wine merchant who d*ed years ago?
Yep, clearly a friend of mine.
- Sarcastic?
- Yep.
- I'll do a new printout.
- Thank you.
Look, I'll just grab a short black.
Today's bean is a single
origin, shade-grown robusta
from Timor Leste.
Sounds great.
I'll just have a Diet Coke.
We've only got organic cola.
- Shade-grown?
- I'll check.
No. It's okay. Cola's fine.
What is spelt?
Um, the PM's office want
me to fly to Canberra.
For a briefing?
For a job.
Okay.
They just want to have a chat.
They haven't said anything officially.
The job as...
Senior Adviser to the
PM on infrastructure.
- Whoa! That's not just a job.
- I know.
- I'm so torn.
- Really?
Sort of.
Leave this madhouse?
Work at the top of there's process
and order and you set the rules?
I guess.
Hey. I don't want to lose
you but Senior Advisor!
- When do you head out?
- Tomorrow.
Well, you know, whatever you
decide, you have my support.
Thank you.
It's not shade grown but
it is palm oil-free.
What is spelt?
I'll check.
WOMAN: While, much of the document
remains under wraps, the paper is...
MAN: ...project our force as a
regional and global power...
MAN:... that's making multi-domain
operations a reality in the ADF
in the next years.
Sorry, guys. One... one more minute.
- Who?
- Ray.
Drummond? It's a golf store.
- So, you don't know him?
- No.
% off putters this weekend.
What's he doing in the documents room?
He's worried about our filing cabinet.
Seriously?
What if someone got squashed
in there? You wouldn't be happy.
If it happened right now, I would be.
But he said if a
child was in there...
What would a child be doing in there?
Dennis knew a bloke once had
brought his son in on a Sunday...
Does he get paid by the anecdote?
Is it okay if he does a quick
assessment of your workstation?
Oh, that'd be wonderful.
- Sarcastic?
- Yeah. He's not to come near my office.
Come on in, guys.
Dennis? We can go down.
- Let's get into this.
- Let's do it.
- Sure.
- (SIGHS) All right.
So, what did you think of the
old Defence White Paper?
- Very impressive.
- Very.
- A real blueprint.
- Comprehensive stuff.
Um... did you understand it?
- BOTH: No.
- No, I struggled as well.
You read it all?
- Oh, yeah.
- Twice.
What are the highlighted bits there?
Oh, they're the bits
I didn't understand.
Right. And what are those tabs?
Oh, they're chapters
I didn't understand.
Yeah.
But if you had to pull the
whole thing together,
you know, I mean how would you...
how would you summarise it?
Pretty much the way you did.
I just made a hand movement.
- It felt right.
- It was definitely a start.
- Yeah.
- DENNIS: Okay.
So let's go through the updated system.
Someone's injured. What do you do?
- Call an ambulance?
- No.
- Check if they're breathing?
- First things first.
You create and file an incident report.
- Oh, right.
- Okay.
- Just log onto the page here.
- (CLICKS)
You've got... date of incident,
location of incident, type of incident.
There is a drop-down menu for that.
Death, serious injury, disease.
- What's contagion?
- Just pick one.
- Serious injury.
- Perfect. Now, hit submit.
(CLICKS) Job done.
What about the injured person?
What about them?
Like, if they needed medical assistance?
Ah! Oh, I see what you're saying. Okay.
Create a new file.
Agency initially contacted.
Paramedics?
- Via?
- Triple ?
- Can I check if they're breathing?
- Er, not yet, darlin'.
"Defence will have enhanced capabilities
"to make meaningful contributions
"to operations addressing shared
regional security..." See, I...
Now, this is crazy. We've all read it.
It's been written by experts.
, feet. What is this paper saying?
The thrust seems to be
that we need to recalibrate
our defence posture
as we pivot to the Asia-Pacific Sphere.
- I think you're right.
- Oh, and what does that mean?
- I have no idea.
- Me neither.
Can I borrow your highlighter pen?
All right, come down to , feet.
What is the clear aim that
emerges from this White Paper?
To strengthen our critical capabilities
within existing regional alliances.
Yeah. Meaning?
Try , feet.
What is one clear recommendation
in this document?
That we should spend %
of our GDP on defence.
- Because?
- It's highlighted after that.
Someone's got to understand this stuff.
- No.
- But isn't this work-related?
I'm working on a Defence White Paper.
- But it says 'Army'.
- Disposals. Superstore sale.
- Oh. I just saw the camouflage.
- Yeah.
Oh, God. Here's fun.
- Sarcastic?
- Yeah.
- I'm getting better.
- Come on in.
- So.
- Let's have a seat.
I thought we'd do it here.
- Did you have a look?
- Yeah.
- Great.
- We all did.
Okay. This is what we wanted to hear.
- Good news.
- And?
- I don't follow it.
- What?
Sorry, we don't follow it.
- Which bit?
- SCOTT: All of it.
Well, how's that good news?
I mean, did you get a general
sense of what it's saying?
Well, that we need to spend
% of our GDP on defence.
- Well, there you go.
- Being too hard on yourself.
- But it's not clear why.
- Maybe we don't need to say why.
- Just that we're spending.
- We're muscling up. We're hawks.
Keeping the Anzac spirit alive.
- Have you been to a focus group?
- Yes.
- Of real Aussies, proud Aussies.
- Mm. So what are we buying?
- Ships?
- What?
A couple of new subs?
Those are multibillion-dollar
investments.
- Gut feeling.
- Blink reaction.
- What's in the shopping cart?
- I don't think we can...
- (ALARM TRILLS)
- What? Hang on. What's going on?
- Sorry about that.
- What's going on?
Dennis is testing our duress alarm.
(LOUDLY) Could you guys
hear that in there?
- Yes. Very, very clearly.
- They can hear it!
Sorry, why are we testing
our duress alarm?
Dennis knew a lady who
stayed back late...
An anecdote. Thanks. That's okay. I'll
just... Grab... Yeah... In a minute.
All right. Let's start
from the beginning.
This White Paper is a visionary
blueprint for Australia's defence.
Let's start at the end.
It's an impenetrable, uncosted
fence-sitting wish list.
Should we start in the middle?
There must be something
specific we can announce.
Look. Let me give you a hypothetical.
Two weeks from now,
the PM is at the National Press Club
giving his take on the White Paper.
He steps confidently up
to the podium and says...
- What part of that is hypothetical?
- The confident bit.
He says, "Ladies and gentlemen,
"Australia's number one
defence priority is..."
Well... it's... is...
Somewhere in here.
See, this is where we
need a duress alarm.
(SIGHS)
Hi. I'm Melanie, one of the
Prime Minister's aides.
- Hi.
- And you're...?
- Nat.
- Great.
And you're from...?
- The NBA.
- Great.
And, just so we can get a
heads-up, what are you here for?
A meeting with the Prime Minister.
Mm-hm. And what exactly
will you be asking him?
I'm not asking anything.
Oh, so just a general visit?
No, I was asked to come up.
- The PM wanted to meet.
- Sorry.
There must have been
a few crossed wires.
I think that's all I need.
Now, can I get you anything
while you're waiting?
- Coffee?
- Sure. We won't be long.
TONY: What?
You said keep emails from
members of government.
This is from a Nigerian prince.
It's a sort of government.
He's asking for aid.
It's a scam.
- Tony, the brigadier's just arrived.
- Great.
And the colonel will be
here this afternoon.
Excellent.
So, he's fixing the light.
Foot slips, asphyxiation.
Scotty. Ash.
- You've got to tell Tony.
- I kind of need you both.
- Anyway, long story short.
- Guys. Now.
Did he survive?
Two months on a respirator.
- You really gotta tell Tony.
- Yeah, I will.
Sorry. Just dealing in with some
last-minute house business.
- That's fine.
- That's for pick-up.
Now. Do you have some documents for us?
Do you mean my CV? References?
Might be. I'll grab them now.
- Oh, I sent them through yesterday.
- Did you?
One second on that.
It's been crazy.
Hey, it's me. She said she
sent them through yesterday.
Yes. To us.
To the Prime Minister's office?
- Yes.
- Yep. That's what she says.
- Well, I'm speaking to, um...
- Nat. NBA.
someone from the NBA.
- Okay. Sure.
- Everything okay?
Any chance you can have those
documents sent through again?
- Um, I guess.
- Perfect.
Well, we won't be long. Can...
can I get you anything?
- That coffee.
- Sure. Onto it.
Firstly, uh, thanks so much for
meeting us at such short notice.
It's not often you get
a call from the PM.
- The Prime Minister rang you?
- : am.
Seems he's taking a keen
interest in this White Paper.
I think he might be right.
It's good to have a deep
thinker on our side.
I'm not from the Defence Department.
But you've got a defence background...
I do.
And you briefed the Senate
Standing Committee.
- I did.
- Along with Cabinet.
- Quite an honour.
- And were they up to speed, you know?
Seemed to be.
Well, you might have to keep
it pretty simple for us.
- Happy to.
- Yeah. Right. Scotty, your meeting.
Thanks, Tony.
What exactly does a pivot to
the Asia-Pacific Sphere mean?
- Ah, you've put your finger on it there.
- Right.
- That's the key.
- Nice one, Scotty.
- It's actually quite straightforward.
- Mm-hm.
It means that within certain
geopolitical zones,
priorities and defence
posture need a recalibration
with a view to evolving regional
tensions and alliances.
Your meeting, Tony.
Could you make it even
more straightforward?
It depends, of course,
on whether one takes
a continental or expeditionary
approach to national security.
Who's meeting is it now?
Actually, I made this very
point to the Prime Minister.
- Oh, and what did he say?
- He nodded.
And then?
- He just kept nodding.
- Right.
At the end of the day,
it's the instability
of the rules-based global order
that poses our most immediate thr*at.
Oh, and when you say thr*at...
Well, more accurately, we're
talking about vulnerabilities.
But meaning...?
We could easily find ourselves exposed.
To what?
- Regional actors.
- In the form of...?
- Tensions.
- Right, so we're back to tensions again, yeah.
Well, I hope that's managed
to clear things up for you.
Oh, in part, yeah, yeah.
Of course, if you want
further clarification...
- Yes, that'd be great.
- Oh, that'd be great.
- Just in terms of the Asia-Pacific, uh...
- Yeah.
- Pivot.
- That's the one. Yeah.
I would speak to one of
the defence think tanks.
Oh, great. Well, we've got
one lined done, so...
I'll email you a list.
Thank you again, Brigadier.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you, sir.
- Have a great day. Thanks very much.
- DENNIS: There you are.
- Have you got a moment?
- When?
- Now.
- Oh, I'm a little bit busy.
Nothing too serious at this stage.
There's a small slipping
hazard in the gents.
- Might need you to look into that. Er...
- Yeah.
lighting in your rear corridor
needs a bit of a tweak.
There's a few egress and ingress issues
but I can turn a blind eye to that.
Yeah, like I said, Dennis, new building,
I think you'll find it pretty safe.
True story. Knew this bloke,
CEO of a big organisation.
Said he didn't see the need
for a risk assessment.
Sorry, is this story about me?
Er, different building.
They had a faulty elevator.
CEO didn't see it as a priority.
This is about me.
- Anyway, long story short...
- I know this story.
- Hang on, what we got here?
- Flowers?
- (SIGHS) Hmm.
- What?
Uh-uh. Back. Sorry, folks.
Sorry about the delay. It's been crazy.
- Nat?
- Yes.
- Are you good to go?
- Sure.
I reckon half an hour, tops.
The PM's just finishing
up a quick round table.
Have you been offered a coffee?
- Yes.
- Great.
Oh, no, I've been offered but
I haven't actually got one.
Well, I think the PM's office
can manage to get a coffee.
Oh, and have you got
some documents for us?
- I sent them through.
- Sorry.
It's been crazy.
- (DOOR SHUTS)
- (SIGHS)
And Jim rang. He got your
email. About the divot.
- The what?
- To Asia.
The pivot.
He wants to know, "Are
you being sarcastic?"
- No.
- I knew it!
I'll let him know.
And are you expecting an
email from a brigadier?
- Yes. Yes.
- It's spam, right?
No. No.
- He tried to sell you think tanks.
- No, I need that.
- I'll get it out of junk mail.
- Yes.
- And any attachments.
- Got it.
- Thank you.
- Here you go, Tony.
- Oh, thank you, Katie. Lovely.
- Mm-hm.
- Katie?
- Mmm?
This is barely warm.
Do you know what temperature
our hot water was set to?
- Hot?
- Dennis said it was nearly boiling.
That's how you make tea.
- But he knew a man once who was...
- Katie. Not an anecdote.
Long story short, three
months in the burns unit.
Can you microwave that?
Uh-uh. It wasn't earthed properly.
Okay.
Sorry about the wait.
I think we're ready to go now.
(PHONE DINGS)
- sh*t.
- Yeah.
We need to jump on this.
- Just found out.
- Is he in?
Go straight through.
Give us ten.
Can we get you another coffee?
Go straight through. What was I saying?
- Coffee.
- (CHUCKLES)
TONY: I mean, it's a
pretty complex document,
especially for those of us
without a m*llitary background.
I quite understand.
I'm not army, myself.
Now, that is an accident
waiting to happen.
That bolt's come loose.
Sorry, guys, can we just grab
the boardroom for ten minutes?
Uh... sure. You'll have to stay
down that end of the room.
- Yeah. Fine
- Yeah, better to be safe than sorry.
Dennis knew a bloke once...
Sorry, Brian, I'm going to
have to jump on this. Yeah.
- All right.
- Just ten minutes.
Navigating through the White Paper
is not a... not an easy task.
Anyway, we were just
hoping you could help.
That is what the Defence
Policy Institute is all about.
Demystifying it all.
- That is what we're after.
- Okay.
At the end of the day,
when you boil it down,
Defence has some very simple objectives.
- Great.
- Excellent.
- One.
- Yeah?
Assessing geopolitical
alignments and pivots.
Two.
Identifying inter-regional tensions
and the security challenges.
And three.
Enabling force projection
to meet capability needs.
Yep.
SCOTT: Ooh...
- Er... Ash's meeting, Tony.
- Er... All right. See.
If you had to have a fourth objective?
- (DOOR OPENS)
- MAN: Okay.
- It's...?
- Nat.
And you are applying for
the special advisory role.
- Actually, I was asked to...
- What's your speciality?
Infrastructure.
Do you know anything about
agricultural policy?
A little.
In terms of nitrogen run-off
impacting sea water quality?
We're a little short staffed.
I haven't actually got the job yet.
We just need a couple
of recommendations.
You want a briefing paper?
Could you?
I... I guess I could try.
Yep. She's on to it now.
Three pars, some talking points
and a couple of recommendations.
- Sure.
- You're a lifesaver.
To be frank, Colonel, not
the easiest tome to read.
It's a very deep and
forward-looking examination.
So we thought we would turn to you
for some practical perspective.
- Happy to help.
- Okay. Ash, your meeting.
At the end of the day, I guess
we have to buy something.
- Indeed.
- So let's take the simplest examples.
- Mm-hm.
- Say we bought some ships.
- Assets.
- Can I call them ships?
It's pretty broad.
Big ships?
- Okay, specifically.
- Your meeting, Tony.
Let's pick aircraft carriers.
So you're looking for
a force multiplier?
No. An aircraft carrier.
I see what you are getting at.
Yeah, trying to buy an aircraft carrier.
Okay. In the simplest terms, why
would we buy an aircraft carrier?
To multiply our strategic capabilities.
But presumably in order
to defend ourselves.
- Oh, I see where you're heading.
- In the right direction?
- Forced posture, interoperability.
- Meaning...
m*llitary co-operation
with another country.
- Well, I understand that.
- So do I.
- Oh, what did I miss?
- So we're cooperating with another...
Well, let's pick a country.
- New Zealand.
- They don't have carriers.
- Well, they can land on ours.
- They don't have fighters.
- Okay, forget New Zealand.
- Should we pivot to Asia?
Let's come at this another way.
Um, help me finish the sentence.
- We need to buy more...
- Procure.
procure more ships and planes in...
Assets.
Ah, we need to procure more
assets in order to simply...
Ensure our future power
projection capabilities
align with our strategic challenges.
- Yeah, not as sim... simple as I...
- I got 'future'.
Now, if there's anything
further you require,
feel free to contact me.
Thank you so much for coming in.
- Trevor will see you out. Okay.
- Thank you.
You're still here.
- Yeah.
- Did Lachlan not speak to you?
- About the agriculture statement?
- The what?
He asked for a briefing
document. I just sent it through.
Oh, was that yours?
- We don't need it now.
- What?
Sorry. It's been crazy today.
How long are you in town for?
- Today.
- Oh. Do you have to leave?
You flew me up for a
quick chat with the PM.
So, any chance we could do it
first thing in the morning?
I'm on a : flight.
Could you stay over, meet tomorrow?
- It'd have to be early.
- Say...
- Early?
- (PHONE BUZZES)
Oh, that's Lachlan now.
Hey, it's me.
I'm with, uh...
Nat.
Nat from the NBA.
She wants to reschedule.
- I'm not the one that wants to.
- Yep.
No, no, she says : is too late.
You know what? Ah, I'll...
- I'll fly back up tomorrow.
- Great.
Oh, and did you ask for
some agriculture thing?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
WOMAN: Defence analysts
have been quick to praise
the Rolling Acquisition Program...
MAN: We need to pivot our interchange...
MAN: To mark strategic
long-term integrated planning.
KATIE: Oh, we thought it was spam.
It was from the Treasurer.
- It said 'sale'.
- Of a port.
Can you get back in touch with him?
- You've unsubscribed.
- Ring him.
Sure.
Just a reminder, Jim and
Rhonda will be in at :
and Nat had to go back to Canberra.
Wow, they're getting serious.
- And do you have a moment for Dennis?
- No.
He just needs to hand over
the new risk register.
- He can leave it on your desk.
- And then he'll be gone.
Two minutes, no anecdotes.
DENNIS: So I've ranked each hazard
in terms of likelihood
and likely consequence.
Sounds logical. yep.
Hence back injury from incorrect
sitting posture is likely
but relatively mild in terms of impact.
- Whereas, say, a tsunami would be...
- That's page , I think.
Yep, there it is.
Severe to catastrophic outcome.
- But again, unlikely.
- Interesting.
I was doing a job in
the Solomon Islands...
- Does this involve a tsunami?
- I'll get to that.
- Tea, Dennis?
- Yeah, lovely.
Anyway. So we are in
Honiara... You been there?
- No. Uh-huh.
- It was beautiful.
Wow, here it is. All done.
Um, I will get Katie to put it in its
rightful place beside the old one.
- Replacing.
- Replacing the old one
is what I meant to say.
Is what I... Yeah.
Is something wrong?
Oh, I just worry I might
have missed something.
Shall we have another look around?
No, no. It's all in here, ranked,
graded and, uh, colour-coded.
- (LIFT DINGS)
- Oh, here's your lift.
- Thanks, Tony. Bye, Katie.
- Yep, bye, Dennis.
Yeah. Thank you, Dennis.
You know there's a light out in here.
- Shall I get him back?
- No.
RHONDA: What do you mean,
you still don't understand it?
No one seems to. I mean,
all this extra spending.
- What's it actually for?
- Listen.
This is not the time for
your dove-ish sentiments.
Let's stay on Team Australia.
Another focus group.
Should Australia increase
its defence spending?
% strongly agree.
It's already $ billion a year.
We cut one cent from this budget,
we could be att*cked overnight.
- By who?
- The Opposition.
- Thought you said he was across this.
- (PHONE DINGS)
- Take it.
- Ah, it's the PM.
He's getting edgy.
I hate to break it to you guys.
Can I at least send an emoji?
A thumbs-up? Okay?
This one?
All these experts, no one can
identify a single enemy.
I can. You.
With your pacifist rhetoric,
trampling all over the
legacy of our Diggers.
I'm not trampling over Diggers.
- Tony? That colonel just sent an email.
- Yeah.
- Listing our defence priorities.
- Great.
This actually might help.
We printed the attachments.
- Attachments or links?
- Is there a difference?
Is one of them an encyclopaedia?
- Do you need the references printed?
- No. No, I'm fine.
Phew, 'cause we are
running out of toner.
Okay. Just leave it. Oh... (SIGHS)
- One more meeting?
- Yeah.
- (PHONE DINGS)
- Oh.
Sad emoji.
Nat. Finally.
- Would you like a coffee?
- Oh, I brought my own.
Well, let's head in.
A lot calmer today.
- Wow.
- I know.
Still gives me a thrill.
You ready to go?
- Sure.
- I'll get the Prime Minister.
- He's not here?
- Had to head to Melbourne.
I just came from Melbourne.
Really?
Hi. It's me. Is the boss ready?
Okay. Ah, how long will that be?
Oh.
Are you here tomorrow?
Thanks everyone for coming
in at such short notice.
I thought the best way to proceed was
to get everyone in the one room.
- Good thinking.
- Okay? You're right.
I'll come straight to the point.
This White Paper is recommending
we spend close to $ billion
over the forward estimates.
Now, at some point the PM is going
to be asked a very simple question.
"In order to protect
us from which enemy?"
- (GROAN)
- (INHALING)
It's... so hard to say.
billion. Pick one.
A regional player.
Specifically, Colonel.
An Indo-Pacific regional player.
- More specifically.
- Indo-Asia-Pacific.
That's broader. Who are you leaving out?
Europe?
- Yeah, I sort of need a country.
- Or an unaligned player.
No. A country.
One that might thr*aten us. Just one.
Yeah...
I wouldn't want to raise tensions.
- Where?
- In this room.
You know what? I'll name
one and you just nod.
China.
Yeah?
Okay.
And what exactly are we protecting?
Strategic interests.
- Specifically, Colonel.
- Indo-Pacific strategic interests.
Again, Brigadier. Really specifically.
Indo-Asia-Pacific strategic interests.
You know what? I'll say
it and then you nod.
Our trade routes?
Yeah?
And who is our number
one trading partner?
- Shall we use a nod system?
- Sure. China?
Yeah.
So under this scenario, we're
spending close to $ billion a year
to protect our trade
with China... from China.
And that doesn't strike
anyone at this table as odd?
Katie told me you were back.
- When'd you get in?
- Last night.
- Grab a seat.
- Yeah.
(DRAWS BREATH) So.
Did they offer you the job?
They did.
So...
You know what?
I'm quite happy to stay where I am.
Really?
- Mm.
- Wow.
- Here you go, Tony.
- Thank you.
Oh, I got you one.
Well, I'm intrigued.
Any particular reason?
Ah...
(NEWS THEME)
But first tonight, the
Prime Minister releases
his long-awaited Defence White Paper,
promising to muscle up in
Australia's pivot to Asia.
This recalibration...
(MACHINE RUMBLES)
What are you doing?
- What are you doing?
- Sorry?
- What's going on?
- I'm shredding.
Yeah, but why are you dressed like that?
Dennis knew a woman who...
Sorry, does this involve a
laceration, an amputation or a burn?
Have you heard it?