Defence & Security Podcast Network

How can Australia strengthen its future defence workforce while building sovereign industrial capability across shipbuilding, sustainment and advanced military technology?

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro unpack a series of developments across Australia's defence and industrial landscape, including new pathways into higher education through the Australian Army Cadets, growth in the submarine supply chain and emerging defence industry opportunities.
Discussion includes a new initiative from James Cook University that recognises the Australian Army Cadets experience as part of university admissions and the role cadet programs can play in building future defence capability.
The team also examines major announcements linked to Australia's naval industrial base, including a contract awarded to Bisalloy Steels to support construction of Virginia Class submarines and the selection of a contractor to design a floating dry dock that will support Australia's future nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Attention then turns to the announcement of a pre-feasibility study into a proposed new Australian oil refinery and the broader implications for national preparedness and economic security.
The panel also explores developments unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow, including the appearance of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat alongside the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, Boeing's plans to establish international manufacturing hubs, and growing international interest in next-generation combat aircraft programs such as the Global Combat Air Programme.
Rounding out the episode, the team discusses comments about the Ghost Shark, chemical weapons restrictions and facial recognition from Anduril founder Palmer Luckey.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this week's podcast, Cyber Daily's Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth cover what happens when AI goes wild, one of Australia's biggest energy providers discloses a data breach, and Premier Jacinta Allan goes after big tech.

The podcast kicks off with a massive data breach impacting AI music-generating platform Suno, and the implications of OpenAI admitting it was one of its AI agents responsible for "malicious activity" targeting Hugging Face. AI breaking its own guardrails is a thing that is happening now, and it is something everyone in the field should be paying attention to.
Then it's on to the week in data breaches, and Hollingworth gets into the details of the Origin Energy hack, while Croft outlines the impact of an attack on a Coca-Cola subsidiary. Each one involves real impact, from personal data to company operations. And that's just the tip of the iceberg this week!
Finally, the pair find some solace in the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) revealing it found nothing wrong with Qantas in the wake of its own data breach in 2025, proving that you can do everything right when it comes to securing data, but still come to grief. And then there's good news out of Victoria, with the state government outlining its plans to tackle online harms without banning kids from social media, and limiting the spread of workplace surveillance.
Just another week in cyber security.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team

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