Defence & Security Podcast Network

As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moves to secure the Pacific and ensure continued alignment with Australia, China threw a wrench in the works by conducting a ballistic missile test, effectively firing the starter's gun on a countdown to war.

In a chilling diagnosis of the Australian political landscape, the latest Contested Ground podcast presents a blunt thesis: the nation has traded the rigorous, strategic statecraft of the past for a hyper-partisan focus on domestic "household" economics, leaving Australia dangerously unprepared for the brewing realities of global conflict.

Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson sit down with former Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo to unpack a harsh truth. The political class has become obsessed with the "household offer" – the immediate, transactional relief of cost-of-living policies at the expense of long-term strategic vision.

Pezzullo argues that modern politics has atrophied its ability to handle global affairs because, quite simply, politicians no longer view deep strategic expertise as a necessary tool in their belt.

The conversation takes a sharp turn when Pezzullo, leaning on his decades of experience, offers a sobering assessment of the Indo-Pacific. He posits a 10–15 per cent probability of a major Pacific conflict by 2028, a window tied to China's internal political calendar and the strategic positioning of US combat assets in Australia.

This isn't merely academic posturing; it is a call for an integrated national plan that currently does not exist. Pezzullo's warning is clear: while Australia has a "quiet" military culture and lacks the martial fervor of other nations, this complacency is a liability when facing a potential major power confrontation.

Perhaps the most provocative thread of the discussion is the challenge to our current leadership's capabilities.

When asked if the current political establishment is equipped to manage a national crisis of this magnitude, the consensus is grim. The conversation draws parallels to Yes, Prime Minister, suggesting that while current leaders might try to channel their inner Churchill when pressure mounts, they lack the foundational historical and strategic literacy that defined the era of leaders like Kim Beazley and Gareth Evans.

The podcast concludes on a pessimistic but realistic note: proactive leadership is unlikely. Pezzullo suggests that the system is so entrenched in domestic optics that it may take a significant crisis, an event more traumatic than a pandemic or supply chain shock, to force the necessary "overpressure" on government.

Until that catalyst arrives, the national security apparatus remains in a holding pattern, hoping for peace but arguably failing to prepare for the strategic storms on the horizon.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

How is Australia's defence industry accelerating innovation to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats, from autonomous drones through to directed energy weapons?

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Lee Kormany, executive vice president Electro Optic Systems Defence Systems Australia.

The discussion builds on a recent $5.7 million contract announcement from the federal government that EOS Defence Systems will develop the R400 SLINGER counter-uncrewed aerial systems capability, under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator's Mission Syracuse.

The pair explores how EOS has adapted its remote weapon systems to address emerging aerial threats, the importance of rapid capability development and why collaboration between Defence, industry and academia is becoming increasingly critical to the sovereign industrial base.

Kormany also examines how artificial intelligence, directed energy and software-enabled hardware are shaping the next generation of defence capabilities. She highlights the importance of practical innovation that delivers operational outcomes rather than simply demonstrating technological potential.

The podcast conversation includes the following topics:

• How EOS transformed its R400 remote weapon station into an effective counter-drone capability through rapid engineering innovation.
• Why directed energy weapons and high-energy lasers are becoming increasingly important for modern defence operations.
• The need to accelerate capability development and deliver operational systems at the pace of evolving threats.
• The role of collaboration between Defence, industry and academia in developing sovereign Australian capability.
• How Australia's Defence Industry Development Strategy, AUKUS Pillar 2 and workforce initiatives are helping shape future defence innovation.
• The growing role of artificial intelligence, autonomy and software-defined systems in supporting faster and more informed military decision making.

Finally, the conversation examines how sovereign manufacturing, export growth and practical engineering innovation are positioning Australian industry to deliver advanced defence capabilities at home while supporting international partners in an increasingly contested strategic environment.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team

Cyber criminals and nation-state actors are no longer relying on malware alone – they're exploiting trust. Here's what you need to know to fight back. ThreatLocker's Emile Barakat joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to help Australia's business leaders understand how threat actors target professionals on platforms like LinkedIn – and how it needs to be addressed.

Whether it's a fake recruiter, consultant, or business partner, attackers invest weeks or months in building credibility before asking victims to open a file, run code, or share sensitive information. The old advice of "don't click suspicious links" is no longer enough – employees must learn to question suspicious opportunities just as much as suspicious emails.

Traditional security awareness training also needs an overhaul. Quarterly phishing exercises remain important, but modern attacks increasingly hide behind legitimate-looking software, trusted open-source tools, and highly personalised AI-driven social engineering.

The message for business leaders is simple, says Barakat: assume your organisation is a target, regardless of its size.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut Team

How can Australia balance the need to strengthen international security partnerships while accelerating investment in domestic defence capability across multiple domains?

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro discuss a busy week across defence, national security and industry.

Discussion includes new cooperation agreements signed by the Australian Federal Police with the FBI, PayPal and the US Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division to deepen collaboration against terrorism, transnational crime and emerging security threats.

The team explores Australia's growing strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including the landmark defence treaty signed between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and what the agreement means for regional security and Pacific stability.

Attention then turns to sovereign capability, including Carbonix becoming the first Australian company to achieve a Safety Assurance Integrity Level III certification for a long-range uncrewed aerial system alongside the announcement of a new $85.9 million F-35 Air Power Precinct in the Hunter region, which will enhance sustainment for Australia's Joint Strike Fighter fleet and regional operators.

The team also examines Lieutenant General Susan Coyle's historic appointment as Australia's first female chief of Army, Air Marshal Glen Braz's transition to chief of Joint Capabilities, and the leadership changes shaping the future direction of the Australian Defence Force.

Rounding out the episode, the panel discusses the government's $5.7 million investment in Electro Optic Systems' Australian-made R400 Slinger counter-drone system under Mission Syracuse and what it signals for the future of sovereign defence manufacturing and counter-uncrewed aerial systems capability.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

While Australia's level of political atomisation is far from as bad as what is being experienced in the broader Western world, we're not far-off. How we engage with generations of Australians will have dramatic ramifications for our national security in the immediate and longer term. Following mounting political tensions across the Western world, with startling examples in the United Kingdom in recent weeks, Australia and Australians have been watching with bated breath as to how long it will take for those simmering tensions to boil over closer to home.

These undercurrents have served to combine with mounting intergenerational hostilities and competition over employment, housing and lifestyle opportunities, with younger Australians increasingly feeling like they were sold a bung deal.

Speaking with Ben Dullroy of Bravo Delta Advisory, host Steve Kuper unpacks the rising political isolation, tensions and, for the establishment parties of Australian politics, concern over the rise of populism on both the left and right of the political divide.

The pair detail the areas of comparison and contrast between Australia and other similar nations like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, discussing emerging trends in the respective political discourse and agenda setting and what Australia can do to avoid the same pitfalls as some of our compatriot nations.

They also discuss the impact of immigration, declining employment prospects and one of the most overlooked aspects behind social cohesion – the dating scene and the intersections of social and cultural investment and national security.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

Qualys' CEO joins the Cyber Uncut podcast to explain why autonomous remediation, smarter patching, and risk-based security will define the next generation of cyber defence. Cyber security is entering a new era as powerful AI models dramatically reduce the time it takes attackers to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. In this episode, Qualys CEO Sumedh Thakar joins Cyber Daily's Liam Garman to explain why businesses need to look beyond the headlines surrounding Anthropic's Mythos and focus on what AI really means for cyber risk.

The conversation explores how organisations can turn the tables by using AI to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers strike. From smarter patching to autonomous remediation and risk-based prioritisation, Thakar outlines why speed, not just visibility, is becoming the defining factor in cyber defence.

Looking ahead, the pair discuss why AI-driven attacks will demand AI-driven security and why CISOs and business leaders need a roadmap for autonomous remediation. If you want to understand how AI is reshaping both sides of the cyber security battle – and what your organisation should do next – this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Please see links to the reports below:

• Verizon 2026 Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) [palink.co] – includes data by Qualys from Section 7 of Qualys TRU's The Broken Physics of Remediation report [palink.co]
• The Broken Physics of Remediation

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

Questions remain about how Australia and its partners can respond to a deteriorating strategic environment while balancing capability development, industrial resilience and evolving security threats. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper and Robert Dougherty discuss a week of major developments across defence and national security, spanning the war in Ukraine, Indo-Pacific deterrence initiatives and emerging domestic security concerns.

The discussion begins with the newly officially launched 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy and crucial reforms to Defence acquisitions announced by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.

Attention then turns to newly released footage from Ukraine's International Legion, including reflections from an Australian combat medic serving on the frontline and the motivations driving foreign volunteers into the conflict.

Next is the New Zealand Defence Force's first AGM-84 Harpoon missile launch from a P-8A Poseidon aircraft during Exercise Valiant Shield.

The conversation also examines the United Kingdom's newly announced Defence Investment Plan, including additional funding commitments and the broader implications for allied defence preparedness amid worsening global instability.

Discussion then shifts to Australia's domestic security environment following the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's latest annual threat assessment, including concerns surrounding espionage activity, pressure on defence industry stakeholders and emerging threats to Australia's participation in AUKUS.

Rounding out the episode, Kuper and Dougherty explore the challenge of strengthening sovereign capability while navigating strategic competition, industrial security and an increasingly contested global environment.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

As Australia faces a populist political surge and the established political parties continue to lose ground, can Australia's "sensible" centre hold, or will decades of failed policies, broken promises and declining economic opportunities finally come home to roost? In a departure from its usual international focus, Contested Ground turns to domestic tensions sparked by the federal budget. The hosts argue that this has become a sustained point of public frustration rather than a short-term political issue.

Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson question whether Australia is moving away from its traditional "sensible centre" towards greater political polarisation.

A central theme of the discussion is the declining level of trust between Australians and the political class. Dr Thompson argues that governments increasingly risk creating division through policies and political strategies that focus on wedge issues rather than building consensus. The conversation references debates, including the Voice referendum and responses to international crises, as examples of issues that have contributed to heightened social tension.

The discussion also turns to housing, taxation and the economic pressures facing younger Australians. Tarrant raises concerns that government policy settings, including changes affecting self-managed super funds and capital gains tax arrangements, may have unintentionally reduced investment capacity and worsened housing supply pressures.

The hosts question whether Australia is continuing to promote an outdated version of the "Australian Dream" while younger generations face record debt levels, higher living costs and greater financial uncertainty.

Ultimately, the episode explores a bigger question: is Australia experiencing a fundamental shift in its national identity and political culture?

The hosts suggest the country may be moving away from the traditional "sensible centre" that has defined much of modern Australian politics towards a more divided environment, where competing extremes increasingly dominate public debate. They warn that maintaining social cohesion will become harder if political leadership continues to prioritise short-term political advantage over long-term national unity.

The episode concludes with a call for a renewed style of leadership – one focused less on political point-scoring and more on honesty, transparency and bringing Australians together to confront the economic and strategic challenges ahead.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

This week, Cyber Uncut looks at important tax time advice, a string of Aussie hacks that have exposed sensitive personal information, and the Australian Signals Directorate's decision to retire the Essential Eight.

CPA Australia has a warning this tax time, and that is to be very aware of taking tax advice from AI chatbots and financial influencers. An AI hallucination could cost you real money, so this is something to pay attention to!

It's been a terrible week for data breaches in Australia, with the NSW Rural Fire Service warning its members of a data breach, and a ransomware actor dumping teacher and student data from the Reynella East College breach onto the dark web. Right now, cyber criminals are no doubt combing through the data, making this breach one that parents should pay attention to.

Finally, the ASD has said that, as good as the Essential Eight is, it's no longer fit for purpose in the AI age. Find out what's going to replace it, and then stay tuned for an update on the alleged distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that took down a One Nation website a couple of weeks ago.

Just another week in cyber security.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

Host Steve Kuper is joined by former navy logistician Dave Grosvenor and chair of the Gravity Group Steve Hayes for a wide-ranging discussion on Australia's sovereign capability, industrial resilience and the growing gap between strategic risk and national preparedness in this episode of the Contested Ground podcast.

The conversation opens with a blunt assessment of Australia's strategic vulnerability, with the argument that it is no longer theoretical but "empirically established" through a growing body of evidence. The panel examines what concrete indicators – ranging from supply chain fragility to operational dependence on external partners – most clearly demonstrate this exposure, and why existing frameworks such as the Defence Strategic Review did not go far enough in diagnosing the scale of the challenge.

A key theme is urgency. The guests argue that incremental reform and repeated reviews are insufficient, making a comprehensive national audit of sovereign capability essential now rather than later. They explore how wargaming outcomes and scenario analysis increasingly point to Australia's limited resilience in the face of prolonged disruption, particularly across critical supply chains and industrial dependencies.

The discussion then turns to the structural limits of market-driven solutions. The panel outlines how market failures, foreign subsidies and competing international industrial strategies distort outcomes for Australian industry. They also unpack the "theory of the second best" in practical policy terms, arguing that partial reforms in a distorted global system can sometimes worsen outcomes rather than improve them. The debate extends to the real-world cost of inaction, framed not just in economic terms but in strategic and operational risk.

Attention shifts to what a national audit would need to deliver, including whole-of-government visibility, cross-sector integration and measurable outcomes rather than another cyclical report. The guests stress the importance of avoiding bureaucratic capture and ensuring the process translates into actionable reform rather than analysis paralysis.

The conversation then explores the policy tools available to government, including long-term procurement, sovereign industry funds, and strategic industrial zones. Particular focus is given to the most under-utilised levers in Australia's current policy toolkit and the skills gaps that continue to undermine sovereign capability ambitions.

International comparisons feature prominently, with the Republic of Korea highlighted as the most relevant model for Australia. The panel discusses Korea's long-term policy consistency, export-driven industrial strategy and state-enabled industrial scaling while questioning how much of that approach is realistically transferable to the Australian context.

Institutional reform is another focal point, with discussion of proposals for a dedicated Ministry of Sovereign Industry. The guests examine how such an institution might interact with Defence, Treasury and industry departments, and whether Australia can maintain continuity of strategy across electoral cycles without a dedicated anchor for sovereign capability policy.

The episode also addresses public trust and communication challenges, emphasising the need for transparency in how sovereign risk is communicated to avoid unnecessary alarm while strengthening social cohesion and democratic engagement.

Finally, the panel considers implementation realities – what can be achieved within a single parliamentary term, how bipartisan consensus might be built, and the respective roles of states, territories and private capital in delivering large-scale industrial transformation.

In closing, the discussion returns to first principles: what motivated the push for a national audit, how lived experience in procurement and logistics shapes the analysis, and what success would look like for Australia if it meaningfully closes its sovereign capability gap over the next decade.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team