Private investment helped Ukraine survive – Australia must take note

 Gold Coast, 23 May 2025 — Private investors are playing a key role in helping Ukraine fight against the Russian invasion, and Australian investors should take note as tensions rise in our region. 

Speaking at the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN) on the Gold Coast, Defence communication specialist James Baker will draw lessons from Ukraine's wartime response, where private capital and local industry rapidly mobilised to support national survival. 

Having been to Ukraine and visited Ukrainian businesses, Baker will show how the skyrocketing Ukrainian defence budget mirrors our own experience during World War Two. 

"At the start of World War Two, Australia was spending just 1.5 per cent of its GDP on defence, and that went up exponentially during the next few years; Ukraine is there right now with defence spending going from low single digits up to around 34 per cent," Baker said. 

"Their government is encouraging private investors to step up when the country needs them most. Australia should heed that warning before it's too late. 

"These decisions were taken after the missiles started hitting Ukrainian cities, but we have the chance to heed that warning and get sovereign Australian private investors and businesses to support defence." 

Many Australian lending institutions refuse to lend to companies making the weapons we need to defend ourselves and our friends, like Ukraine. 

"That's a shamefully irresponsible concession to minority pressure groups," Baker said. "But changing your policy when the missiles are landing is too late". 

"Our Ukrainian friends received that reminder the hard way and are currently losing more than 100 citizens a day," he said. 

"Our own strategic documents say this is the most dangerous time since World War Two," he said. "If ESG means anything, defending our way of life should be priority one." 

James Baker is Managing Director of Burbank Martial, a consultancy specialising in communication in the defence and national security fields. He has served in the Australian Defence Force on multiple deployments and held senior roles in the federal government and private business. 

ENDS 

Media contact: James Baker james.baker@burbankmartial.com 0401 940877