Hands across the Tasman

Amid intensifying regional challenges and weakening multilateral systems, the trans-Tasman alliance must evolve from habit into a deliberately integrated, credible, and strategically agile instrument for regional stability.

The Navy at 125

The Royal Australia Navy has a long and distinguished history but faces a period of weakness before new ships are launched to protect this island nation from China’s growing threat to the Pacific.

It’s not about finding your dog

The public backlash to Amazon’s superbowl advert publicising its ability to collate information from domestic security cameras has increased scrutiny on the private surveillance state the big tech platforms are building.

A world without the USA

Canberra can no longer assume that Washington will underpin regional stability or the rules-based order, the foundational premise of modern Australian strategic planning. Australian policymakers must grapple with the prospect that the destabilising behaviour of US President Donald Trump’s administration is not a temporary aberration.

Framing Australia’s defence strategy

The National Defence Strategy due for release next year needs to give Australians clarity about security priorities and reassurance that challenges in the region can be met.

Beware of quick fixes

If Bondi becomes just another episode of blame followed by forgetfulness, we’ll have failed ourselves. If instead it becomes a catalyst for serious, evidence-based reform, Australia may yet emerge stronger and more resilient.

Australia’s security shake-up

Australia’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies are to be reviewed in the wake of the Bondi massacre which they singularly failed to predict or prevent.

Never again

The worst terrorist attack on Australian soil specifically targeted Jewish Australians after two years of rising anti-semitism and a royal commission is required to ensure such an atrocity never happens again.

Australia’s stress test

The dreadful terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday should be understood not only as an act of violence against Sydney’s Jewish community but as a stress test of Australia’s security, social and policy systems.

A long time coming

The terrorist attacks which murdered 15 people at Bondi beach came after huge increase in online antisemitism in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel two years ago.

The case for civil defence

The escalating geostrategic threats to Australia demand more than military might in response and a resilient, united and proactive civil defence framework could help safeguard citizens and build national resilience.

The Australian case for US power

As criticism of the United States grows louder in Australian circles, many are quick to declare the end of American leadership without considering what comes next.