Senate Estimates descended into 'Yes Minister' territory last week when the vexed subject of AUKUS came up, following the revelation from deputy PM and defence minister Richard Marles that Australia's best case scenario was now that we would receive three second-hand submarines from the USA during the transition stage of this very expensive project, possibly between 2032 and 2038.

As the Anzac myth spreads its strange, schizophrenic glow over the country, in which war is not glorified but stone soldiers on plinths are honoured with music and prayers by the religious and secular alike, it’s a good time to consider our enemies, then and now. Because without enemies, war is impossible.