The National Security Podcast

What is the future trajectory for Plan ANZAC? How does a small nation like New Zealand (NZ) contribute to collective security in the Indo-Pacific? How does NZ’s strategic identity differ from Australia’s? What should the future social contract between NZ and its Defence Force look like? What does effective leadership and stewardship look like?   In this episode, Sharryn Parker is joined by Ma...

Does the flare up in recent AUKUS debates represent the perspectives of the broader Australian public? Does Australia have a credible Plan B if part of AUKUS falters? Can Australia sustain the political will and strategic patience needed for a multi-decade defence project?   In this episode, Justin Burke speaks with Jennifer Parker and Peter Dean about what the latest developments mean for AU...

Can national security be fully understood through hard power alone? Is it time for Australia to have a broader national security strategy – one that goes beyond defence and brings in federal, state and community perspectives? How can women’s experiences be integrated into a more traditional understanding of national security?   In this episode, Sharryn Parker speaks with Professor Valerie Hud...

Why is the Strait of Hormuz crisis about more than crude oil, and what does it reveal about Australia’s hidden supply-chain vulnerabilities?   What should investment in supply chain resilience look like for Australia?   Does the green transition reduce Australia’s energy security risks, or does it shift our dependence to new materials, technologies and supply chains?   How can Austr...

How should government balance national preparedness with cost-of-living pressures?   Can Australia strengthen fuel security, defence capability and supply chain resilience without undermining productivity and living standards?   How do economic pressures, housing stress and inequality shape public trust – and what does that mean for national security?   In this episode, Aruna Sathan...

What are the real differences between the 2024 and 2026 National Defence Strategy – and why is this an evolution, not a revolution? How is Australia thinking about national resilience, and what does a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to security look like in practice? Are we investing in the right capabilities – and at the right speed – to meet the challenges ahead? How do global conflicts, from Ukraine...

How are everyday Australians experiencing misinformation in their daily lives, and why does it feel increasingly overwhelming? How are platforms and algorithms shaping what we see? What impact is this having on trust in institutions, political decision-making and social cohesion? What does a healthy democratic information space look like?   In this episode, Tanya Notley and Ika Trijsburg join...

Why do Australians place peaceful and safe communities above more traditional security priorities? Why are AI-enabled attacks, economic crises, supply chain shocks and disinformation rising above more conventional threats in public concern? Why do many Australians want more transparency and information from trusted agencies, while also feeling overwhelmed by the information environment? Why do so...

Why did the United States and Israel choose to strike Iran now – and what are the strategic consequences of that decision? What lessons have been learnt from Iran’s asymmetric response? Can Iran’s protesters realistically leverage the current crisis for meaningful political change, or has the aerial campaign by US and Israel undermined their momentum? How can Australia and other US allies balance...

Is there a strategic through line or an explanatory logic behind the Trump Administration’s actions in Venezuela, Greenland and Iran? What is the current state of the Transatlantic Alliance? What are the implications of cross-theatre linkages for the idea that Europe and the Indo-Pacific are separate security arenas? With rising tensions in the Middle East, what factors will most strongly influenc...

Why do Australia’s borders require a fundamental rethink? How can Australian governments build on the vision of Australia’s borders as a national strategic asset?  How can new forms of border governance, such as the use of AI and advanced data analytics, be introduced without undermining public trust? What should the border look like for industry, travellers, the pubic, international partners...

Why has serious and organised crime – estimated to cost Australia $82.3 billion each year – become a national security issue? How is the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) responding to this? What are the linkages between state actors and transnational and serious organised crime in Australia? What is the role of ACIC and other intelligence organisations in combating transnational...

How integrated is Australia’s approach to statecraft across defence, diplomacy, development and industry – and how visible is that integration to the public? What is the strategic logic behind Australia’s expanding network of Pacific partnerships and treaties? What are the details of the reforms to defence acquisition and how will this impact the future of Australia’s defence industry?   In t...

What is intergenerational security and how does it intersect with traditional concepts of national security? How do intergenerational dynamics and differing interactions with technology, social media and AI impact security and resilience? What are the security issues that young Australians care about and how do these differ from the concerns of older Australians?   In this episode Sally Bulke...

How is the Australian Defence Force preparing for the challenges of a changing world?   Does the appointment of a naval officer as the Chief of the Defence Force signal a shift in focus to the maritime domain?   What does a career in the Australian Defence Force mean in the 21st century?     In this episode, Admiral David Johnston joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the insights he h...

What are the origins of the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), and how has the organisation developed within the National Intelligence Community?   How does AGO contribute to the broader remit of Australian statecraft, the work done by other NIC agencies, and the Five Eyes partnership?   What makes innov...

What is democratic resilience and why is it a national security issue?  Why is it important to preserve public trust and participation in the electoral process and what are some of the challenges to this?   Apart from voting, what are some other ways that Australians can engage in the democratic process?   What challenges do big tech companies, mis- and disinformation, and AI presen...

Do the US and other Western allies still maintain an edge over China in defence industry and innovation?   How are partnerships between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea reshaping the global balance of power?   How do Australia and other US partners contribute to strengthening deterrence and industrial resilience?   What are the key supply chain vulnerabilities we might face in a...

How does Finland view strategic linkages between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions?   What is the Finnish model of ‘Comprehensive Security’, and how does it work in practice?   How does Finland communicate openly with the public about national security risks without fuelling alarm or polarisation?   What lessons can Australia learn from Finland's societal-led approach to pr...

How has the terrorism threat landscape evolved since 9/11, and what makes today’s challenges more complex?   How is the counterterrorism response evolving in response to today’s rapidly shifting global landscape?   How has Trump’s ‘America-First’ policy impacted the US’ relationship with the Five Eyes partners in the counterterrorism space?    What can we do at a societal and c...

How has Indonesia’s foreign policy evolved under President Prabowo?   Is Indonesia slowly moving from being ‘non-aligned’ to being ‘multi-aligned’?   How have recent US foreign and domestic policies affected its relationship with Indonesia?   How can Australia and Indonesia strengthen their relationship and enhance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific?     In this episode, Nata...

How has strategic deterrence evolved from the Cold War to contemporary times? What is ‘strategic substitution,’ and how has China used it to craft its unique approach to deterrence? How does the ‘Golden Dome’ proposed by the US fit into today’s debates on missile defence and counter-space capabilities? Does Australia need to do more to close the capability gap in relation to China’s recent moderni...

How aligned are China and Russia's strategic interests? How is this relationship playing out in relation to competing spheres of influence in Central Asia? What are the key points of friction in the China-Russia partnership? In this episode, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Graham Meehan join Sally Bulkeley to delve into the complex dynamics of the China-Russia relationship, exploring the alignment and di...

How has the Australia-China relationship changed since the Prime Minister’s last visit to China in 2023?  From China's perspective, how does its relationship with Australia fit into its current worldview? And how has US policy under Trump impacted that relationship?  What does the future hold for the Australia-China relationship, given China’s increasingly assertive foreign and strategic...

What are some of the key mechanisms for avoiding conflict? Why is ASEAN a key player in preventive diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region? What challenges are faced in trying to prevent conflict in the region? And what role does Australia play? In this episode, Bec Strating, Huong Le Thu and Collin Koh join Rory Medcalf to delve into the complexities of conflict prevention in the Indo-Pacific region...