Examining the ethics and legality of war
Military ethics in a contested and complex world
Rapid advances in technology combined with rising geopolitical tensions have resulted in unprecedented challenges to global security with implications for Australian defence and national security planners. When combined with more enduring considerations around veterans’ health, personnel retention and recruitment, these technological changes provide key research foci for the Defence and civilian academic community examining legal and ethical challenges in Defence.
In 2024, The University of Queensland hosted the inaugural Military Ethics Symposium with the Queensland University Regiment, celebrating a 76-year historical connection between our institutions. The Symposium brought full-time and part-time ADF personnel and researchers together over two days to engage with contemporary issues in the military ethical tradition.
Beyond technology
As Queensland’s largest and most comprehensive university, UQ partners with Defence through innovation, access to advanced testing and research infrastructure, and through shared expertise and knowledge leadership.
In her opening remarks, UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Rachel Parker acknowledged the contribution of researchers from UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law in the areas of laws of armed conflict, international humanitarian law, international technology control regimes and trusted autonomous systems.
“Never has there been a more pressing need to examine the ethics and legality of war given the rapid advances in technology that are resulting in greater proliferation challenges, enhanced speed, autonomy and lethality,” she said.
New tech, old problems
Ethical issues persist in the face of advancing technology, and in many ways, do not change, according to Major General (Ret’d) Mick Ryan AM. Delivering his keynote address, War in Modern Conditions: New Tech, Old Problems, MAJGEN Ryan highlighted the ongoing ethical dilemmas faced by defence personnel, and need for ethical frameworks.
Other speakers included Professor Cian O’Driscoll from the Australian National University (ANU) and panel discussions on current ADF Ethics Doctrine, the use of Autonomous Weapons System and the Militarisation of Space.
UQ academics contributing to the symposium included Dr Lauren Sanders CSC and Professor Rain Liivoja from TC Beirne School of Law and Professor Michael Reade AM, Chair of Military Medicine and Surgery, UQ Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences Faculty. Together with ADF PhD scholars and fellow academics, a range of topics were discussed, including the ethical duties of military non-combatants, just war theory, autonomous weapons systems and the militarisation of space.
Impact on future planning
Event convenor QUR Chaplain Jessica Grant said the inaugural Military Ethics Symposium was hailed as a success by both UQ and Army, demonstrating the value of knowledge exchange, networking and research translation for ADF officers seeking to advance their leadership skills and for academics committed to partnering with the Defence and national security community.
“Dr Greta Nabbs-Keller [UQ Associate Director Defence, Space and National Security] and I worked with a range of partners from UQ, Griffith University, and wider Defence agencies to deliver an event that has drawn considerable interest from the Senior Leadership Group and a direction to replicate the symposium model nationally over the next two years,” CHAP Grant said. “We look forward to enhancing the partnerships between the ADF and universities in Queensland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. The strong collegiality between UQ and QUR has given us an excellent foundation for this significant collaboration.”
As UQ builds on the foundations of an enduring, historical partnership, future iterations of the symposium are expected at state and national levels. From cyber security to decision-making, international relations, and legal and policy implications, the symposium highlighted the importance of academic research related to legal and policy frameworks for Defence-related contemporary challenges, the value for civilian academics to engage with the military ethical tradition, and need for research to address new and ongoing issues in the Defence sector.