In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the new shadow minister for defence, Senator James Paterson, to discuss his appointment and ambitions for the nation's defence capabilities.

The pair unpack a host of issues, including the following:

• The key priorities the senator and opposition have identified as focal points for this term of government.
• The local and global fallout of the ongoing Iran conflict and the lessons Australia can learn from the successful asymmetric tactics and strategies employed by Iran.
• The debate about defence spending – is it enough to merely focus on the headline figures: 2.5 versus 3 versus 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
• Getting the balance of capabilities right rather than focusing on single platforms or capabilities in isolation; viewing the Australian Defence Force as an ecosystem of capabilities that need to be balanced rather than overly specialised, exquisite platforms.
• Australia's key vulnerabilities and opportunities in an era of great power competition and multipolar competition.
• Expectations, insights and opportunities – part of the 2026 National Defence Strategy and updated Integrated Investment Program.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Rian Whitby, deputy chief operating officer at DEWC Services and former naval officer aerospace engineer.

The pair discuss the Australian defence ecosystem and electronic warfare in the lead-up to Whitby's appearance at the Electronic Warfare Australia-New Zealand 2026 conference.

As part of this in-depth conversation, the pair discuss a range of subjects, including the following:

• The Australian defence ecosystem as well as small-to-medium enterprises and international primes supply chains.
• Support for the Royal Australian Navy and the evolving regional threat environment in the Indo-Pacific.
• Spectrum congestion and increasingly sophisticated electronic attack capabilities in modern warfare.
• The Royal Australian Navy's new platforms, such as future Mogami Class frigates, uncrewed underwater vessels and uncrewed surface vessels.
• Integration of embedded electronic warfare upgrades into legacy naval platforms.
• Electromagnetic warfare challenges, capability gaps and Australia's evolving sovereign electronic warfare capability.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with financial intelligence expert and author, Keith Bulfin as they unpack the intricacies of the global financial systems and the weaponisation of the institutions by organised crime, terrorist and state-backed networks.

The pair discuss a range of subjects including the ramifications of lax regulation and enforcement, that has resulted in significant funding, resources and technology making its way to organised crime and rogue regimes, especially Iran.

• Mr Bulfin's experience working for the US Department of Justice and consulting with law enforcement and intelligence communities on the financial networks of organised crime organisations like the Mexican cartels and their overlap with terror organisations.
• The interconnected ecosystems linking organised criminal enterprises, paramilitary and terror groups through hubs in the Middle East, particularly via hubs in Iran, the UAE, Asia and Africa.
• The diverse areas of growth focus for these organisations as they seek to collaborate and circumvent traditional law and intelligence countermeasures to expand their operational impact and revenue streams.
• The challenges presented by the growing symbiotic relationship between traditionally isolated organisations, that now share common objectives and means for furthering their business, or political reach.
• The continuing flow of "black money" from nations like China and India, that continue to flow into Australia, exposing our economy to major vulnerabilities across areas like real estate, consumer goods and services.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground Team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret'd) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia's energy system.

The trio begin by discussing the Australian government's rhetoric around the nation's liquid fuel supplies, its access to the global energy markets and the immediate ramifications of the ongoing throttling of oil flows out of the Middle East.

As part of this, they unpack the state of Australia's liquid fuel stockpiles, the challenges governments face in moving to "calm" the Australian public and prevent a run on the nation's limited crude oil reserves.

They also discuss the decline in the nation's refining capacity, our dependence on foreign refined fuel imports from south-east Asia and the implications for national security and resilience.

Finally, they unpack the policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities that face Australia's policymakers and the immediate steps we can take to build national resilience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI news and entertain some very special guests in the studio to break down how insider threats work and how CISOs can defend against them.

The pair kick off the podcast discussion by breaking down Meta's move to buy agentic AI chat platform Moltbook and how its developers have now become senior Meta AI staff, before moving on to have a look at how Pornhub has responded to eSafety's new age verification measures.

Hollingworth then welcomes three fantastic guests to the podcast: Brenton Steenkamp, lead partner, heading up law firm Clayton Utz's cyber security practice; Andreas Ostenfeldt, director in Clayton Utz's risk advisory practice; and their guest, Lou Bladel, the global director of insider threat at Uber and a former FBI agent. Cyber Uncut's guests go into detail covering how insider threats work, what motivates insiders to go bad, and how CISOs can outline the challenge to their boards. Hollingworth also asks Bladel to outline his thoughts on cyber threats emerging from the fighting in Iran, before a quick chat about the risks that agentic AI can pose.

Hollingworth and Croft then close out the podcast looking at the UK government voting down a move to introduce Australian-style social media age verification laws – for now.

Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by L3Harris Technologies vice president for Australia and New Zealand, Alan Clements, to discuss the arrival of the Royal Australian Air Force's new MC-55A Peregrine aircraft.

Clements is a former F/A-18 Classic Hornet instructor and previously served as commanding officer of No. 77 Squadron. He became an air commodore in 2011 and retired from the Royal Australian Air Force as an air vice-marshal in 2020.

He also served as commandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy from 2013 to 2016, then as the Australian defence attaché to the United States from 2017 to 2020 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

During the podcast, the pair discuss the MC-55A Peregrine and its significance for Australia's intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare capabilities, including the following:

• The arrival of the first MC-55A Peregrine aircraft in Australia and its role in strengthening the ADF's ISR and electronic warfare capabilities.
• How the platform, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, provides high-altitude, high-speed intelligence collection across the electromagnetic spectrum.
• The benefits of adapting commercial aircraft for military ISR missions, including lower operating costs, easier maintenance and greater flexibility.
• The role of the MC-55A in enhancing Australia's situational awareness and decision making across the Indo-Pacific region.
• Future upgrades, technological challenges and the importance of rapid software and hardware development to keep pace with evolving threats.
  The growing importance of the electromagnetic spectrum and artificial intelligence in modern warfare and defence operations.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the US–Israeli strikes against Iran and the ramifications for Australia.

The trio lays the foundation for a mini-series of focused podcast conversations over the coming weeks to address the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Australia and the Australian public.

These topics will include engaging conversations with a range of experts across the following:

• The impact on social cohesion and the rise of foreign interference in Australia's diaspora communities.
• Australia's declining industrial sovereignty and the impact of contested, frayed and interrupted supply chains.
• The economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia's cost-of-living crisis and the fuel security challenges Australia faces.
• The impact on Australia's key economic pillars and the connective tissue of logistic supply chains.
• Cyber security, disinformation and proxy activity in Australia.
• Migration and the challenges facing Australia's diaspora communities.
• Questions relating to Australia's geographic isolation and the psychology behind our "Tyranny of Distance" and the impact on Australia's security posture.
  Questions relating to what kind of "Middle Power" Australia wants to be.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by UK member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, Fred Thomas, who has recently toured Australian defence facilities as part of a UK parliamentary delegation examining submarine infrastructure and AUKUS cooperation.

Thomas has previously served as a Royal Marines Officer across several security environments, including nuclear security, counter-terrorism, arctic warfare and on overseas operations. He remains an active Royal Marines Commando Reservist.

Thomas represents the recognised UK submarine hubs of Barrow and Plymouth, he has established the Defence Technology All Party Parliamentary Group, and has close links to the UK submarine enterprise, including facilities in Barrow-in-Furness and His Majesty's Naval Base Devonport.

During the podcast, the pair discuss development of submarine infrastructure in Australia and historical examples from the UK, including the following:

• Australia's efforts to develop infrastructure and a skilled workforce to support nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS.
• Community perceptions of nuclear propulsion and the importance of regulation and training pathways.
• News from visits to facilities, including HMAS Stirling and the Australian Marine Complex, and a tour of HMS Anson during its maintenance period in Western Australia.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team