Defence & Security Podcast Network

As global security deteriorates, a major new UNSW Canberra survey reveals a startling paradox in the Australian psyche: unwavering trust in the Australian Defence Force, coupled with a deep misunderstanding of its operations, widespread apathy towards increased funding, and a shocking drop in support for traditional alliances.
Australia's relationship with the ADF is reaching a strange inflection point. Joining Steve Kuper on Contested Ground, UNSW Canberra's Dr Richard Dunley and Dr Nicole Townsend reveal how the latest public sentiment data exposes a dangerous disconnect between Canberra's strategic reality and the public's expectations.
At first glance, the report offers a comforting narrative for Defence leadership. Public trust in the ADF remains impressively high, holding steady from 2025. Nearly 70 per cent of Australians trust the ADF as an institution, and over 65 per cent trust it to act ethically.
However, as Dunley and Townsend reveal, this trust is built on a foundation of profound public ignorance.
Despite escalating global tensions, most respondents admitted they are uninformed about current ADF operations. This highlights a persistent and widening gap between the ADF's complex, widespread operational commitments and the Australian public's understanding of what their military actually does.
This lack of understanding is having tangible impacts on public policy appetite. The survey found that despite Australians reporting a deteriorating perception of global security, support for additional Defence funding has flatlined, remaining steady at roughly one-third of the population. More concerningly, the researchers noted a small but significant growth in the number of respondents actively favouring cuts to the Defence budget.
"Australians are feeling less secure, yet they aren't willing to pay more for security," Kuper says, driving to the heart of the paradox.
The public seems most comfortable viewing the ADF through the lens of a highly capable emergency management agency. There is overwhelming support – over 82 per cent – for the ADF's involvement in domestic disaster relief, and strong backing (68.4 per cent) for regional humanitarian assistance.
Yet, when it comes to hard power and traditional strategic posture, the survey reveals a dramatic shift. In a major departure from the 2025 data, support for the ADF operating closely with traditional allies – particularly the United States – has plummeted by nearly 20 per cent. While a slim majority (54.4 per cent) still support these alliances, outright opposition has spiked dramatically.
Conversely, the public shows a naive optimism towards regional security treaties. Australians broadly believe the recent mutual defence treaty with Papua New Guinea will enhance security, even though only 37 per cent of respondents actually knew the treaty existed.
A similar trend of "sentiment over substance" emerged regarding veterans. While the public strongly supports government initiatives for veterans, there is a distinct lack of awareness regarding actual veteran issues or policies.
Join Kuper, Dunley, and Townsend on Contested Ground as they dissect these findings and ask the critical question: Can the ADF rely on public trust if that trust is blind?
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

How prepared is Australia for a more contested strategic environment, and what role can defence industry, emerging technology, and economic resilience play in strengthening national security?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty, and Bethany Alvaro unpack key insights from the inaugural Australian Defence Industry Accelerator Summit and the Australian Defence Industry Awards, alongside broader discussions about Australia's preparedness for future security challenges.
Discussion includes concerns raised by defence and national security experts regarding Australia's readiness for potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in relation to growing tensions surrounding Taiwan and strategic implications of China's military modernisation.
The team explores commentary from former diplomats and strategic analysts on Australia's response to China's growing regional influence.
Attention then turns to defence spending, public perceptions of national security investment, and the challenges governments face in balancing cost-of-living pressures with the need to strengthen military capability.
The team also examines forecasts for artificial intelligence-driven productivity gains, the likelihood of a correction in the AI investment boom and the economic risks posed by instability in the Middle East.
Rounding out the episode, the panel discusses collaboration between Defence and industry, strengthening cyber security practices and streamlining defence exports.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Join Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Securonix's senior vice president for Asia-Pacific and Japan, Ajay Biyani, to break down why the challenge for organisations isn't replacing analysts – it's giving them the tools they need.
Security operations centres are under unprecedented pressure as cyber attacks become faster, more sophisticated and increasingly powered by AI. At the same time, security teams are expected to do more without additional staff or budget. Rather than replacing people, Biyani contends, AI is proving most valuable by filtering out false positives, correlating data across disconnected security tools, and allowing analysts to concentrate on genuine threats, threat hunting and incident response.
As AI agents become more common across enterprises, security teams will also need visibility into machine identities and automated systems, creating an entirely new attack surface that demands modern security operations and AI-assisted defence.
The message for business leaders is clear: modernise security operations now or risk falling behind attackers already using AI to their advantage. Investing in AI-powered security isn't about reducing headcount – it's about empowering analysts, improving resilience, and ensuring the organisation is prepared for the inevitable cyber incident before it happens.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut Team

As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moves to secure the Pacific and ensure continued alignment with Australia, China threw a wrench in the works by conducting a ballistic missile test, effectively firing the starter's gun on a countdown to war.
In a chilling diagnosis of the Australian political landscape, the latest Contested Ground podcast presents a blunt thesis: the nation has traded the rigorous, strategic statecraft of the past for a hyper-partisan focus on domestic "household" economics, leaving Australia dangerously unprepared for the brewing realities of global conflict.
Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson sit down with former Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo to unpack a harsh truth. The political class has become obsessed with the "household offer" – the immediate, transactional relief of cost-of-living policies at the expense of long-term strategic vision.
Pezzullo argues that modern politics has atrophied its ability to handle global affairs because, quite simply, politicians no longer view deep strategic expertise as a necessary tool in their belt.
The conversation takes a sharp turn when Pezzullo, leaning on his decades of experience, offers a sobering assessment of the Indo-Pacific. He posits a 10–15 per cent probability of a major Pacific conflict by 2028, a window tied to China's internal political calendar and the strategic positioning of US combat assets in Australia.
This isn't merely academic posturing; it is a call for an integrated national plan that currently does not exist. Pezzullo's warning is clear: while Australia has a "quiet" military culture and lacks the martial fervor of other nations, this complacency is a liability when facing a potential major power confrontation.
Perhaps the most provocative thread of the discussion is the challenge to our current leadership's capabilities.
When asked if the current political establishment is equipped to manage a national crisis of this magnitude, the consensus is grim. The conversation draws parallels to Yes, Prime Minister, suggesting that while current leaders might try to channel their inner Churchill when pressure mounts, they lack the foundational historical and strategic literacy that defined the era of leaders like Kim Beazley and Gareth Evans.
The podcast concludes on a pessimistic but realistic note: proactive leadership is unlikely. Pezzullo suggests that the system is so entrenched in domestic optics that it may take a significant crisis, an event more traumatic than a pandemic or supply chain shock, to force the necessary "overpressure" on government.
Until that catalyst arrives, the national security apparatus remains in a holding pattern, hoping for peace but arguably failing to prepare for the strategic storms on the horizon.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

How is Australia's defence industry accelerating innovation to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats, from autonomous drones through to directed energy weapons?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Lee Kormany, executive vice president Electro Optic Systems Defence Systems Australia.
The discussion builds on a recent $5.7 million contract announcement from the federal government that EOS Defence Systems will develop the R400 SLINGER counter-uncrewed aerial systems capability, under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator's Mission Syracuse.
The pair explores how EOS has adapted its remote weapon systems to address emerging aerial threats, the importance of rapid capability development and why collaboration between Defence, industry and academia is becoming increasingly critical to the sovereign industrial base.
Kormany also examines how artificial intelligence, directed energy and software-enabled hardware are shaping the next generation of defence capabilities. She highlights the importance of practical innovation that delivers operational outcomes rather than simply demonstrating technological potential.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
How EOS transformed its R400 remote weapon station into an effective counter-drone capability through rapid engineering innovation.
Why directed energy weapons and high-energy lasers are becoming increasingly important for modern defence operations.
The need to accelerate capability development and deliver operational systems at the pace of evolving threats.
The role of collaboration between Defence, industry and academia in developing sovereign Australian capability.
How Australia's Defence Industry Development Strategy, AUKUS Pillar 2 and workforce initiatives are helping shape future defence innovation.
The growing role of artificial intelligence, autonomy and software-defined systems in supporting faster and more informed military decision making.
Finally, the conversation examines how sovereign manufacturing, export growth and practical engineering innovation are positioning Australian industry to deliver advanced defence capabilities at home while supporting international partners in an increasingly contested strategic environment.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team