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Sam Roggeveen will be in conversation with Rory Medcalf on his new book The Echidna Strategy: Australia's Search for Power and Peace.

In the wake of a shift in the global power balance, how can Australia best protect itself? The Echidna Strategy overturns the conventional wisdom about Australia's security. Australia will need to defend itself without American help, but this doesn't need to cost more.

The truth, which no Australian political leader is willing to confront, is that America's security is not threatened by China's rise. Once we accept that conclusion, the entire edifice on which our security has been built crumbles, and we need to start afresh.Yet, despite the rapid growth of China's military, defending Australia need not be particularly difficult. Our leaders insist on making it expensive and hard. Even worse, in the name of the US alliance, they expose our country to more danger.

The Echidna Strategy sheds new light on the contest for leadership in Asia and the strategy Australia needs to thrive. This includes a radically different approach to defence. Above all, it means a bolder Australian foreign policy, with three goals: leadership in the Pacific; a much stronger relationship with Indonesia; and a regional order centred on a gathering of its great powers.

'Essential reading for anyone interested in our nation's security in an uncertain world where the enduring supremacy of the United States cannot be assumed or assured.' --Malcolm Turnbull

'Here is a voice, bold in its conclusions and forensic in its logic, which defies the echo chamber of current strategic policy.' --Peter Varghese

Sam Roggeveen is director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program. He was the founding editor of The Interpreter and is editor of the Lowy Institute Papers. Before joining the Lowy Institute, Sam was a senior analyst in Australia's peak intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM has been Head of the National Security College (NSC) at the Australian National 51³Ô¹ÏÍø since January 2015. His professional background involves three decades of experience across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, academia and journalism, including as founding Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute.

The vote of thanks will be given by Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program at The Australia Institute.

This event is in association with . Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.

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• A podcast will be made available after the event.

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