How do you counter the Australian turtle strategy?

[Sangreal]

^

[Mira! 🩷]

Have better continents, hold stuff like SA and NA.

[Loko180]

Also, if you are particularly annoyed by this strategy, I would strongly suggest to play the extended world map that opens up more connections (Australia and South America, South America and Africa via the South, Japan and USA...). By opening up more connections there are less places where people can hold big armies and play turtle strategies... (Aaaand maybe do not play with blizzards, as they can make these strategies even better randomly... xD)

[Gumichi]

Australia is good because it's hard to attack into, but the gain from Australia is only +2 a turn.
An observation is if Europe or NA is held, then Australia falls behind. So if either you or someone else holds those +5 continent, Aus gets outpaced. The thing about Risk is well, risk and posturing. You never want to force something to happen, or make enemies you can't crush.

Worst case is when someone turtles Aus, and you have a hothead who prevents anyone else from getting any other continent. In which case, patiently ball up the army wait for an opportunity in the form of uncontested territory. Attack only for a card into like a 1 troop territory to prevent bleeding army. +3 a turn goes a long way when you're not losing any. By having a large single force, you make yourself difficult to kill. You're also more ready to take advantage of any openings. Unless of course, you were already weakened to the point of death.

Test the waters here and there to see who would let you keep what. I've held Asia with only 1 troop at the borders once or twice.

If you make it your mission to stop people from holding territory (including Aus), you're the one who's going to bleed troops. Just fight battles that has worth. That goes for everybody, including the guys who keep you from holding continents.

All games are different, so your millage will vary. It helps to accept that you can't win them all.
Good luck.

[keiout]

Indigante