Associate Professor Cameron Moore

UNE Law’s Associate Professor Cameron Moore gave a guest seminar based on his published paper titled “The Defence Strategic Update: Maritime Strategy and the Law” (in the Australian Naval Review 2020 Issue 2) in the Advanced Military Operations Law course. It’s designed for Australian Defence Force Legal Officers and coordinated by the ANU School of Legal Practice. Cameron spoke on the Use of Force at Sea.

Abstract

‘In the face of a deteriorating strategic outlook, Australia needs to have a maritime strategy which prevents isolation and preserves its independence. The Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan, together with existing maritime doctrine, serve this aim through seeking to defend a rules based international order. As identified in the Update, success in this aim will require considerable international corporation with both friendly and neutral nations, requiring a ‘focus on strengthened international engagement, particularly with the United States, Japan, India, ASEAN and other allies and partners in our region.’ This demands an approach which carefully applies international and domestic law to provide legitimacy to maritime operations.  Put simply, upholding a rules based international order  requires upholding the rules. Failing to do so will not only subvert  the aim but also alienate international and domestic support. This paper argues for both the significance and value of maritime strategy based upon the careful application of the law. It will do so through an analysis of scenarios above and below the threshold of armed conflict.’