The National Security Podcast

Can differing global approaches to AI regulation and investment work together, or are we headed toward fragmented, siloed systems? How can AI governance in developing nations be supported as part of regional aid and security agendas? What challenges does Australia face in regulating AI without a national bill of rights or federal human rights charter? Should governments mandate the inclusion of human oversight in all AI-powered decisions? In this episode, Sarah Vallee and Maria O’Sullivan join David Andrews to talk about how AI is impacting national security, with a focus on AI governance models and mass-surveillance.Maria O’Sullivan is an Associate Professor at Deakin Law School. She's a member of the Deakin Cyber Research and Innovation Centre.Sarah Vallee is a specialist in AI Policy and Governance. She's a Fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute, sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes  NSC academic programs – find out more  Article 8: respect for your private and family life We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.  

How is the re-elected Labor Government expected to approach national security and foreign policy in its new term of office? Can Australia strike a sustainable balance between its alliance with the United States and its complex relationship with China? Is the future of the AUKUS agreement secure? What more can the government do to strengthen Australia’s national security through improved preparedness and resilience? In this episode, David Andrews, Will Leben and Bec Strating join Sally Bulkeley to discuss the outcomes of the 2025 Australian Federal Election, what’s in store of the re-elected Albanese Government and the implications for our national security agenda. William Leben is Senior Analyst at The Development Lab and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Professor Bec Strating is the Director of La Trobe Asia and a Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University. She is also an Expert Associate at NSC. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at NSC. Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of College at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPTShow notesNSC academic programs – find out more Pulse Check x Australia's Agenda Restoring America’s maritime dominance Asia Rising podcast We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Is Europe ready to defend itself without the United States? What roles do major countries like France, Germany, the UK, and partners like Australia play in this equation? How is the European defence industry responding to the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical uncertainty? Are the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theatres now fully integrated in an era of global strategic competition?  In this episode, Thorsten Benner and Bruno Tertrais join Rory Medcalf to explore the evolving landscape of European security in the context of global challenges, particularly the impact of the Trump administration, the China-Russia dynamic, and the potential responses of countries like France and Germany. Thorsten Benner is Co-founder and Director of the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin.Bruno Tertrais is Deputy Director of the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS), a leading French think-tank on international security issues.Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. TRANSCRIPT Show notes ·      NSC academic programs – find out more We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What is the link between gender and extremism? What makes it a national security issue? Can domestic violence act as a ‘comorbidity’ for extremism and radicalisation? Should the Australian Government consider following the lead of other countries and classifying misogyny as a form of extremism? In this episode, Elise Stephenson and Pascale Taplin join Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss the complex relationship between extremism, gender and national security.Dr Elise Stephenson is the Deputy Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at ANU and Fellow at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Pascal Taplin is an anthropologist and PhD candidate at NSC. Associate Professor Danielle-Ireland Piper is Academic Director at NSC. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes  NSC academic programs – find out more Misogyny to be treated as extremism by UK government From home to horror: the association between domestic violence and terrorism See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill – book See What You Made Me Do – miniseries, documentary National Security Law in Australia – chapter 8 Gender and National Security by Susan Harris Rimmer & Elise Stephenson  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What kind of external pressures and foreign interference is Taiwan facing?  How does Taiwan balance its status as a global tech giant with its regional security vulnerabilities? In what ways are Australia’s interests intertwined with the security and resilience of Taiwan? In this episode, Ketty Chen and Mark Harrison join Susan Dietz to discuss Taiwan's national security challenges, focusing on the influence of China, the complexities of Taiwan's domestic politics, and the implications of its role in the global tech supply chain. Dr Ketty Chen is Advisor for the National Bureau of Asian Research and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Dr Mark Harrison is Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Tasmania and an Expert Associate at NSC. Susan Dietz is Senior Executive Advisor, China at NSC. TRANSCRIPT   Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more.  Revolutionary Taiwan: Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order President Lai introduced 17 major strategies to respond to five major national security and united front threats faced by Taiwan Disinformation in Taiwan – report We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.  

How does China’s leadership view the relationship with the US, and how has that perspective evolved over the years? How might China seek to take advantage of recent actions by the Trump Administration that have destabilised the international order? How should Australia respond to shifting US-China dynamics in the Indo-Pacific? In this episode, Chris Buckley joins Susan Dietz to discuss the evolving relationship between China and the US, including the implications for economic and bilateral ties, and the wider geopolitical dynamics at play in the Indo-Pacific region.Chris Buckley is the chief China correspondent for The New York Times. He reports on China and Taiwan from Taipei, and focuses on politics, social change, and security and military issues.Susan Dietz is Senior Executive Advisor, China at the ANU National Security College.TRANSCRIPT Show notes ·      NSC academic programs – find out more.We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

Is Australia doing enough to make intelligence useful for policymakers, parliamentarians, and cabinet ministers? How can Australia build an intelligence workforce with a diverse range of skills, interests and backgrounds, and reflective of our society?  How should Australia balance its intelligence independence with alliance integration?  In this episode Chris Taylor and Miah Hammond-Errey join Rory Medcalf to delve into the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review, discussing the role of intelligence in an uncertain world, the relationship between intelligence and policy, and the impact of technology on intelligence.  Chris Taylor is Head of the Statecraft & Intelligence Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is the founding CEO of Strat Futures Pty Limited and host of the Technology & Security podcast. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. TRANSCRIPT  Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more.  Technology & Security podcast 2024 Independent Intelligence Review Adapting Australian intelligence to the information age We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What impact will cuts to foreign aid have on security in Southeast Asia and the Pacific? Why is international development essential to Australia’s diplomacy and security outlook? Do the recent Trump tariffs and withdrawal of aid demand a more active role for Australia and other middle powers? In this episode Melissa Conley Tyler and Mira Sulistiyanto join David Andrews to unpack the current state of foreign aid and international development, with a focus on cuts to USAID, its implications, and Australia’s role as aid partner for the region. Melissa Conley Tyler FAIIA is Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue. Mira Sulistiyanto is an international development expert currently working at the Development Intelligence Lab as Senior Analyst. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College (NSC).  TRANSCRIPTShow notes NSC academic programs – find out more.  Development disruption: What does it mean for Australia? RAMSI Australia stands firm behind its foreign aid in the budget, but the future remains precarious Pulse Check x US Aid Disruptions In brief: 2025 Australian Federal Budget Balancing Act: 25 years of Australian international budgets  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. 

What are the biggest contemporary threats to food security? How do global shocks affect supply chains? How will the Trump tariffs impact Australian and global food security? How can Australian research help bolster food security in other regions?  In this episode, Alison Bentley and Dirk van der Kley join David Andrews to share insights into the current state of food security, contemporary threats, and the need for research and innovation to ensure sustainable food systems.  Dr Alison Bentley is Deputy Director, Agriculture and Food at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Dr Dirk van der Kley is a Research Fellow at the ANU National Security College (NSC). David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at NSC.  TRANSCRIPT   Show notes  NSC academic programs – find out more  The world is producing more food, but it is a mixed bag in terms of improving diets | Tom Campbell and Dirk van der Kley Future (bio)made in Australia? | Dirk van der Kley, Dan Santos, Dan Pavlich Genes and geopolitics  We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes.