CONTESTED GROUND: Andrew Hastie on espionage, resilience, and the new front lines of national security

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the Honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for home affairs, for a hard-hitting discussion on the shifting nature of Australia’s national security challenges.

No longer confined to conventional defence or counter-terrorism, the security debate now spans economic sovereignty, industrial security, and social cohesion. Against the backdrop of recent revelations of Iranian espionage attempts on Australian soil, Hastie warns that hostile foreign actors are probing Australia’s vulnerabilities, not only in cyber space and critical infrastructure, but in the trust that underpins our diverse society.

Throughout the conversation, Hastie shares how his perspective has sharpened since stepping into the shadow portfolio following his time as shadow minister for Defence. He outlines the emerging contest for resilience – whether in defending supply chains, protecting advanced technologies, or insulating the national economy from coercion.

Kuper presses Hastie on the domestic implications of foreign espionage operations, particularly the way they threaten multicultural harmony and fuel social division. Hastie stresses that Australia must be proactive in countering influence operations, strengthening intelligence partnerships, and reinforcing trust across society.

The discussion then broadens to the strategic importance of resilience, a whole-of-nation approach that prepares Australians not just to respond to crises, but to withstand them.

Hastie points to key policy gaps, from weak industrial capacity to fragmented national planning, and calls for a more integrated framework that links defence, economy, and society into a coherent security posture.

As Australia navigates an increasingly contested world, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what security really means. The conversation offers sharp insights into how Australia can adapt to a new era of threats and why resilience must sit at the heart of any credible national security agenda.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team