Detecting weaponised words

A groundbreaking new study into the patterns of terrorist language could help authorities create algorithms to detect and flag extremist content online.

The man for the job

Dave Lassam’s recent memoir therefore offers a welcome glimpse into the reality of life at sea, and reminds readers of the valuable roles and often unexpected tasks undertaken by the Royal Australian Navy in times of peace as well as war.

Threat level – Probable

Australia’s terrorism threat level has been raised to ‘probable’ —indicating that the level of risk of a terror attack is greater than 50 percent in the next 12 months.

The enemy within

The Soviet Union relied on ideologically motivated spies in the West to leak defence and technology secrets and the recent arrests of two Russian spies in Australia suggests this problem is now re-emerging.

Australian defence and deterrence

Robbin Laird’s “Australian Defence and Deterrence: A 2024 Update” serves as a handy summation of the Defence challenges faced by Australia in a more contested world.

In defence of AUKUS

Those who value AUKUS recognise that Australia can thrive with our sovereignty, strategic choices and economic freedom intact, but only if we remain ambitious.

Drone wars

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed the criticality of drones as a weapon system for modern battlefields. Yet as other states rush to follow suit, there are some sobering realities to face from “high-tech” tools of warfare.

Homes for heroes

The Australian Defence Force needs bold, creative initiatives to attract and keep enough personnel to reach expansion targets, and making it easier for young service people to buy their own home could offer a major attraction.

Fight for the future

The concept of ‘minimum viable capability’ is critical to shifting Australia’s thinking on how to get cutting edge technologies into the hands of military personnel fast enough to give them an advantage on the battlefield.

Recruiting the Pacific

Australia’s defence force needs more new recruits, so widening the net to our Pacific allies and neighbours could solve several problems at once.

Lab rats

The penetration of the Canadian government’s National Microbiology Lab by two Chinese agents underlines the importance of Australian governments and universities guarding against Chinese espionage.

The fate of Russia’s navy does not invalidate ours

Ukraine’s sinking of several Russian warships is an impressive achievement, but is part of a long tradition of asymmetric naval warfare and does not render surface combatants obsolete.