Former defence leaders urge government to release report into national security risks posed by climate change

Former defence chief Chris Barrie says the government should immediately release a declassified version of the report. (ABC News)

The federal government has brushed aside a call from former defence leaders who are urging it to release a secret report into the national security risks posed by climate change.

Last year, the government asked the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) to examine the external risks posed by climate change as the region grapples with increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather events.