UnSubRocky wrote on May 20
th, 2019 at 3:30pm:
Indonesia could invade Darwin with its army and navy. If we had a prime minister like Kevin Rudd, he would surrender the whole country in a matter of a minute. It is not what the country would do to defend itself. It is what the politicians, most of whom were brought up in very privileged upbringings, who would decide if we were to be ruled under a foreign power. Politicians are in it for a good time, not a long time. They see as far as retirement.
Indonesia would be detected long before they even left harbour with the forces necessary to seize Darwin. You also appear to no understand that since 1988, the majority of the Army has been resident in the Top End, away from the SE Corner of the continent. The Indonesians would be faced by a brigade of troops, plus supporting elements.
Indonesia, in reality, would lack the ability to sustain more than a battalion in such an attack. Their defence forces are heavily involved in the civilian economy, with their landing craft forming part of the inter-island movement of goods and vehicles. Remove them and you cripple your civilian economy.
Indonesia would have only a handful of fighter aircraft, which would be opposed by a squadron of F/A-18A/B's and F/A-18F/Gs plus Wedgetail AWACs and MRTT inflight refuellers.
The Indonesian navy would have a small handful of escort ships for their landing force which would be opposed by at least a dozen surface combatants, plus three COLLINS class submarines.
So, all and all, it would be a hopeless expedition by Indonesia.
As for Australian politicians, I rather think everybody would be falling over themselves to create a "Thatcher Effect" for their next election by showing how they could stand up to the Indonesian attack. Wouldn't matter if it was ScoMo or Rudd or Gillard or anybody else. Granny with her walking stick would be effective.