Out of the shadows

We discuss the Trump indictment and Australia’s intelligence services with John Blaxland and Clare Birgin on this episode of Democracy Sausage.

Why is the Australian Signals Directorate, a secretive and seemingly esoteric part of the Department of Defence, becoming increasingly important to Australian society? And why have Australian officials tended to be more secretive than their counterparts in other democracies? Professor John Blaxland and Clare Birgin join Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss Australia’s intelligence services, their new book, Revealing Secrets, and why it almost didn’t make it to print.

John Blaxland is a Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies at ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and a regular media commentator.

Clare Birgin is a former Australian diplomat, who served as Ambassador in Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.

Mark Kenny is a Professor at the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the University after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

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This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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