Critical minerals are a focal point of international contention in an increasingly fracturing international system. These minerals underlie competition across civil and defence sectors and promise economic opportunity throughout their supply chain. Furthermore, they are …
Northern Australia comprises half of the nation’s landmass, is rich in natural resources and offers a gateway to the Indo-Pacific—yet it is grossly underappreciated in federal decision-making, with the result that its potential is largely …
Australia’s National Defence Strategy presents a central challenge to the ADF: deterring adversaries from projecting power through our northern approaches. To do this effectively, the ADF must maximise use of civilian infrastructure, particularly in northern …
At a time when controlling the narrative is power, are organised crime groups acting as mercenaries of disinformation, using their skills to manipulate minds for profit? A recent Australian Federal Police (AFP) operation suggests an …
Interpol’s vision statement is ‘connecting police for a safer world’. Yet it isn’t connecting all police and is leaving some people less safe. Excluding Taiwan from Interpol observer status undermines international cooperation and hinders the …
There is a glaring disconnect between policy and practical action in the Northern Territory. Focusing the Australian Defence Force on Northern Australia is a straightforward decision. The Defence Strategic Review, National Defence Strategy and Integrated …
Last month, about 700 Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers executed arrest warrants nationwide under Operation Kraken. This operation targeted Jay Je Yoon Jung, the alleged architect behind Ghost, an encrypted messaging app explicitly designed for …
The often tireless efforts of officials in Australia and around the world to secure the release of their citizens detained arbitrarily have yielded mixed results. This malign practice by autocratic regimes continues. The patchy outcomes …
Australia needs a policy for delivering the minimum manufacturing capacity that would ensure national resilience, security and economic prosperity. Unfortunately, Australia’s domestic manufacturing capacity is generally declining, except in the defence industry and, in time, …
Nitazenes, a group of potent synthetic opioids, are fuelling a global overdose crisis, with rising fatalities across Europe and North America. In Australia, nitazenes are only just making their mark, from hip inner-city nightclubs to …
Fourteen countries this week took what they intended to be a big step in countering China’s dominance of critical minerals supply. But it’s unclear whether the initiative will restore competitiveness of Australian production and investment …
Over the last three decades, the Australian Defence Force (ADF), enjoying an era of peace and strategic stability, shifted from prioritising sovereign fuel resilience to investing heavily in outsourcing. With strategic warning times shrinking and …
