A defence analyst has called on Australia to reintroduce conscription to address the looming risk of an “all-out” war with Russia.

But former Australian Army chief and director of the National Security Institute at Canberra University, Professor Peter Leahy, says that conflict is far from an inevitability, and conscription shouldn’t be used “except in the most extreme of circumstances”.

He told Tom Elliott other measures — such as free university education for people who serve four years in the military — should be considered first.

Press PLAY below to hear his view on conscription

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