Terrorism in Australia in 2019: More of the same?

While there can be no ironclad guarantees, generous resourcing should allow security authorities to remain on top of the situation and prevent group plots from succeeding.

Australia’s defence and security: Are we doing enough?

Given that anything in Australian defence takes decades to mature, an upcoming election is the perfect time to talk about the issue of defence and security.

Hackers for hire pose growing international security risk

A hacker has been jailed in the UK over his role in a massive cyberattack in Liberia in 2016, in a case which is likely to be a sign of things to come as hackers for hire become ever more available—and affordable.

Climate change dominates the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report

The World Economic Forum has released its Global Risks Report 2019 to coincide with its annual meeting taking place this week in Davos, Switzerland and, for the third year in a row, climate change and climate change–related risks dominate the document.

Improving maritime security in the Asia–Pacific

Over recent years, Asia–Pacific maritime security has become increasingly complex. Illegal fishing, piracy, terrorism, the trafficking of weapons, drugs and people and an increasingly assertive Chinese Navy all threaten regional peace and prosperity.

What Indonesia’s rise means for Australia

While attention in the region continues to focus on China, Indonesia’s growing economic and military power also creates both threats and opportunities for Australia.

Second track diplomacy could calm Asia’s power struggles

Australia must be nimble and smart as it adheres to the US alliance to ensure its security in the region while simultaneously looking towards Asia on economic and trade issues. Informal second track diplomacy offers a way to negotiate the rocky path ahead.

Keeping your kids safe if they’re home alone in the holiday

Unlike some other countries, it’s not illegal in Australia to leave children ‘home alone’, but some simple steps can help keep them safe if an adult can’t be with them all the time over the holidays.

Closing the gap – or widening the gulf?

The mixed impact of the ‘intervention’ suggests that grassroots solutions driven by the communities concerned, rather than top-down measures imposed from above, are the best way to tackle ongoing problems in Australia’s indigenous communities.

Beefing up the Parliamentary Defence Committee

Australia’s Parliamentary defence committee should be given the power to pursue a national security strategy, given the increasing threat of China in the region and the relative military decline of the United States.

Australia should privatise visa processing

It would be wonderful if the government had the resources to purchase, maintain and upgrade its own visa processing systems and if every application could be assessed by a trained Home Affairs official, however neither of these appears possible.

It’s time to counter Russia’s militarisation of the Black Sea

If NATO continues to cede influence and authority in the Black Sea to Russia, Putin’s threat to Ukraine and neighbouring nations will only increase, threatening the international rules based order on which international security depends.