Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century : Force 2030 Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century : Force 2030 is an Australian Government white paper released on 2 May 2009 . The publication seeks to provide guidance for Australia ' s defence policy and the Australian Defence Force ( ADF ) during the period 2009 – 2030 . Background . In 2000 , the then Coalition government released a defence white paper in response to the East Timor crisis that saw Australia deploying and leading a peacekeeping force in South - East Asia . The paper called for an increased expeditionary capability , and marked a departure from the defensive military posture ( primacy of the air - sea gap ) of the " Defence of Australia Policy " , that had been in placed since the end of the Vietnam War . A commitment to develop a new Defence white paper was one of the Australian Labor Party ' s ( ALP ' s ) policies during the 2007 Australian federal election . At the time the policy was launched Labor ' s leader Kevin Rudd argued that the Howard Government had over - committed the ADF and conducted insufficient planning . Rudd promised that if elected his Government would commission a new white paper to clarify the ADF ' s role and force structure . In December 2007 , shortly after the ALP Rudd Government was sworn in , the Minister for Defence , Joel Fitzgibbon , directed the Department of Defence to begin work on the white paper . While the white paper was originally due to be completed in December 2008 , it was delayed until 2009 due to the volume of work required . Key elements . " Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century : Force 2030 " was based around assumptions that China will become increasingly dominant in Australia ' s region and that Australia cannot rely on the United States for protection . The white paper outlines the Government ' s preferred ADF force structure . This structure will involve a significant expansion to the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) , including replacing the current six " Collins " class submarines with twelve new submarines , replacing the eight " Anzac " class frigates with eight larger frigates , developing a class of twenty corvette s to replace the RAN ' s patrol boats and survey ships , replacing the Navy ' s heavy lift ship and replenishment ship and buying 24 new naval combat helicopters . The previously - approved construction of at least three " Hobart " class destroyers and two " Canberra " class Landing Helicopter Dock will also go ahead . The Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) is planned to be re - equipped with up to 100 F - 35 Lightning II combat aircraft , eight new maritime patrol aircraft , up to seven unmanned aerial vehicle s and ten new light tactical transport aircraft along with an additional two C - 130J Hercules . There will be relatively few changes to the Australian Army , which is to be organised into three brigade s each with about 4 , 000 soldiers . The main new equipment for the Army will be up to 1 , 100 light armoured vehicles , seven new CH - 47F Chinook helicopters to replace the current CH - 47D models and new self - propelled and towed 155mm artillery guns . Reception . The white paper received a mixed response from governments in Australia ' s region , Australian political parties and defence commentators . Malcolm Turnbull , the then leader of the Federal opposition , said the document did not provide details on how the plans it described would be funded . Senator Bob Brown , leader of the Australian Greens was critical of increasing defence expenditure during an economic downturn and said that these resources would be better used to counter climate change . Australian Department of Defence officials briefed the Chinese , Indian , Indonesian , Japanese and United States governments as well as the governments of several other countries in Australia ' s region before the white paper was released . The Chinese Government was reported to be concerned about the white paper ' s identification of China as a possible threat to Australia ' s security . The Indonesian Government was supportive of the plan . Brookings Federal Executive Fellow of the John Angevine has argued that the concept of defence self - reliance in the white paper is wrong and that Australia should seek closer defence ties with the United States instead .