ASPI Podcast: Policy, Guns & Money

In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, Leanne Close, head of ASPI’s Counter-terrorism Program, speaks to Julia Ebner, Resident Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London and author of ‘Going Dark – the Secret Social Lives of Extremists’. They discuss right-wing extremism and Julia details her experiences going undercover to engage with extremist groups and individuals and shares her ideas on how governments can respond. Danielle Cave, Deputy Director of ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre (ICPC), speaks to Analyst Alex Joske about his recent report ‘Hunting the Phoenix: The Chinese Communist Party’s global search for technology and talent’ on China’s global talent-recruitment programs. They talk about the scale of the programs and how governments can shape their policy responses. And ICPC Researcher Elise Thomas and Research Intern Albert Zhang provide a run-down on their latest report ‘Pro-Russian vaccine politics drives new disinformation narratives’, which looked at vaccine disinformation which emerged from Eastern Ukraine’s pro-Russian media ecosystem and managed to make its way across international social media networks. Mentioned in this episode: ‘Hunting the Phoenix’ report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/hunting-phoenix ‘Pro-Russian vaccine politics drives new disinformation narratives’: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/covid-19-disinformation Guests: Leanne Close: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/leanne-close Julia Ebner: https://www.isdglobal.org/isd_team/julia-ebner/ Danielle Cave: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/danielle-cave Alex Joske: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alex-joske Elise Thomas: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/elise-thomas Albert Zhang: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/albert-zhang Background music: "Atmospheria" by Francis Preve via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, Lisa Sharland speaks to Rob Malley, President and CEO of International Crisis Group, about conflicts during Covid-19 and prospects for peace in Afghanistan. They also discuss Crisis Group’s annual ‘10 Conflicts to Watch’, including what’s changed since the last edition, and what might feature in the next edition later this year. The Strategist’s Brendan Nicholson and Anastasia Kapetas discuss the recently released US Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Russian Interference in the 2016 Election and foreign interference in the US. (Hint - there was plenty) Finally, Tom Uren and John Coyne continue the conversation on Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020, where it falls short, and the challenges for policing cyber criminals. In this episode: Lisa Sharland: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/lisa-sharland Robert Malley: https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/robert-malley-0 Anastasia Kapetas: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/anastasia-kapetas Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Tom Uren: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Background music: "Sydney's Skyline" by ALBIS via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, Michael Shoebridge and Marcus Hellyer discuss the key findings of this years The Cost of Defence report which was launched this week. Traditionally the Cost of Defence is a single volume report, but for 2020 it's being released in two parts - this first part discusses the impacts of the Strategic Update 2020. Bart Hogeveen and Tom Uren from ICPC, the ASPI International Cyber Policy Centre, review the recently released Australian Cyber Security Strategy 2020 document and consider the implications of it's directions. (Spoiler alert - the document gets a 5.5/10 from Tom and Bart!) ASPI Research Interns Daria Impiombato and Alex Pascoe finish this episode with their thoughts on the global rumblings around popular social media app, TikTok. In this episode: The Cost of Defence report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/cost-defence-2020-2021-part-1-aspi-2020-strategic-update-brief Michael Shoebridge: Director, Defence and Strategy. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Dr Marcus Hellyer: Senior Analyst - Defence Economics. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/marcus-hellyer Tom Uren: Senior Analyst - ICPC. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Bart Hogeveen: Head, Cyber Capacity Building - ICPC. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/bart-hogeveen Alex Pascoe: Research Intern. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/alexandra-pascoe Daria Impiombato: Research Intern. https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/daria-impiombato Background music: "Unavailable" by Causmic, via the You Tube Audio Library.

This week, Kelsey Munro speaks to Charles Edel, Senior Fellow and Visiting Scholar at Sydney University’s United States Studies Centre about US-China tensions and the US policy approaches towards China. They discuss how the strong rhetoric on China coming out of Washington offers a distraction from US domestic political failings ahead of the upcoming elections. Brendan Nicholson and The Strategist’s new National Security Editor Anastasia Kapetas offer their thoughts on the ASPI conference thus far, and some of the key takeaways from the discussions on the United States and China and where the world might be headed. Leanne Close speaks to Sofia Patel, PhD candidate at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London and non-resident ASPI fellow, about her research into the gender aspects of terrorism and how this can inform counter-terrorism policy approaches, something she wrote about in this year’s Counterterrorism Yearbook. In this episode: Kelsey Munro: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro Charles Edel: https://www.ussc.edu.au/people/charles-edel Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson Anastasia Kapetas: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/anastasia-kapetas Leanne Close: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/leanne-close Sofia Patel: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/sofia-patel Background music: "Write you" by Joey Pecoraro via the You Tube Audio Library

This week on Policy, Guns and Money, Michael Shoebridge, ASPI’s Director of Defence, Strategy and National Security, and Dr Robert Glasser, Visiting Fellow at ASPI, discuss the current Covid-19 situation globally, the successful and failing responses and the challenges ahead across the globe. Senior ICPC Analyst Kelsey Munro speaks to Researcher Nathan Ruser about his use of satellite imagery analysis in his research on areas such as Xinjiang and the China-India border and how he became interested in this type of research tool. And Senior Analyst Dr Huong Le Thu is joined by Colonel Raymond Powell, who recently concluded his post as US Defence Attaché in Canberra. Colonel Powell offers some reflections on the highs and lows of his Australian posting and thoughts on the US-Australia alliance. In this episode: Michael Shoebridge: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Dr Robert Glasser: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/robert-glasser Kelsey Munro: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro Nathan Ruser: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/nathan-ruser Dr Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Colonel Raymond Powell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondpowell/?originalSubdomain=qa Background music: "Lulu" by Underbelly, via the You Tube Audio Library

This week on Policy, Guns & Money, Tom Uren, Senior ASPI ICPC Analyst, speaks to Sean Duca, Vice President and Regional Chief Security Officer for Asia Pacific & Japan at Palo Alto Networks about ASPI’s ‘Clean Pipes’ report. They discuss how internet service providers can do more to protect users from online threats that hurt the Australian community and economy. ICPC colleagues Louisa Bochner and Elise Thomas discuss the future for tech companies operating in Hong Kong and the challenges they are facing as the Great Firewall approaches. And Brendan Nicholson, Executive Editor of The Strategist, speaks to Michael Shoebridge, ASPI’s Director of Defence, Strategy and National Security, about the increasing value being placed on trust globally and China’s trust account with the world. In this episode: Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/clean-pipes-should-isps-provide-more-secure-internet Tom Uren: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Sean Duca: @SeanDuca (Twitter) Louisa Bochner: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/louisa-bochner Elise Thomas: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/elise-thomas Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson Michael Shoebridge: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Background music: "Firestarter" by Jeremy Black - via the You Tube Music Library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, Dr John Coyne, Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement at ASPI and Tom Uren, Senior Analyst with ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre discuss the legal dilemma of conducting offensive cyber operations. Next, Senior Analyst Dr Huong Le Thu speaks to Ja Ian Chong, Visiting Scholar at the Harvard-Yenching Institute and Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore about the recent Singapore elections, why the results were a surprise for some and what the results mean for Singapore’s foreign policy in the years ahead. And Dr Paul Barnes, Head of ASPI’s Risk and Resilience Program speaks to Mavis Depaune and Monte Depaune, environmental experts and PhD candidates at the University of Wollongong, about disaster prevention and resilience in the Pacific and the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Nauru, which they wrote about in ASPI’s recent report ‘A Pacific disaster prevention review’. Mentioned in this episode: Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/pacific-disaster-prevention-review Guests in this episode: John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Tom Uren: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Ja Ian Chong: https://harvard-yenching.org/scholars/chong-ja-ian Paul Barnes: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/paul-barnes Mavis Depaune: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mavis-depaune-46606756/?originalSubdomain=au Monte Depaune: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monte-depaune-a2929370/ Background music: "The Stork" by Ketsa, via the Free Music Archive. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Raising_Frequecy/The_Stork

In this special episode of Policy, Guns and Money, ASPI’s Executive Director, Peter Jennings talks to Australian Walkley award winning journalist and ASPI Senior Fellow, Stan Grant and they turn their minds to the upcoming ASPI conference, Strategic Vision 2020. Stan talks about his delight at the incredible line-up of global leaders the conference has in store, and how he is preparing for the in-depth discussions he will facilitate as conference host over the course of four weeks. Peter and Stan consider the big, strategic challenges Australia and the world are facing, as we endure the global pandemic, a probable global depression and changes to the global order. Listen to the discussion now, prepare your questions for our guests and register for the conference here: https://www.aspi.org.au/event/strategic-vision-2020-aspi-conference-series The ASPI conference series, Strategic Vision 2020, begins next week – delivered live & online – all available for free! Simply register for the sessions you wish to attend and watch live or on-demand. Speakers: • The Hon. Kim Beazley AC | Governor of Western Australia • Carl Bildt | Former Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994) • Dr Dino Patti Djalal | Founder, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia • Elizabeth Economy | C.V. Starr senior fellow, director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations • Christiana Figueres | Former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2010-2016) • Dr. Robert Glasser | Former special representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, ASPI Visiting Fellow • Jane Halton AO PSM | Adjunct Professor at the Universities of Canberra and Sydney • The Hon. John Howard OM AC | Former Prime Minister of Australia (1996-2007) • Bilahari Kausikan | Former Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Foreign Ministry • Major General (Ret'd) Duncan Lewis | Former Director-General, ASIO • Professor Raina MacIntyre | NHMRC Principal Research Fellow & Professor of Global Biosecurity, UNSW • The Right Hon. Sir Rabbie Namaliu KCMG CSM | Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (1988-1992) • Samantha Power | 28th U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations • Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC | Minister for Defence • Sir John Scarlett KCMG OBE | Former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service Head to the ASPI site via the link above for the full agenda.

In this special episode of Policy, Guns and Money, we continue the conversation on cloud computing. Michael Shoebridge and John Coyne, co-authors of ASPI’s recent report ‘National security agencies and the cloud: An urgent capability issue for Australia’, are joined by Oracle’s Kirsty Linehan and Nathan Cook, experts in cloud computing, for an in-depth discussion on cloud computing in Australia’s national security infrastructure. Report https://www.aspi.org.au/report/national-security-agencies-and-cloud-urgent-capability-issue-australia Webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoZLku4p9C4&t=7s Michael Shoebridge https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Dr John Coyne https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Kirsty Linehan https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyalinehan/?originalSubdomain=au Nathan Cook https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathancook2/?originalSubdomain=au

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, ICPC Program Coordinator, Louisa Bochner speaks to Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, China reporter at Axios, about the Hong Kong security law, Article 38 and the application of the law and what this latest move from Beijing means for its relations with the US, Australia and other democracies. Next, two of ASPI’s grumpy strategists Marcus Hellyer and Malcolm Davis chat about the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, including what’s new in the update, what it means for the Department of Defence budget and where it falls short. And finally, Tom Uren and Fergus Ryan from ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre discuss the role of China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats on Twitter and their attempt to shape global discourse, and the desire among Chinese citizens to jump the Great Firewall and access the banned platform. Mentioned in the episode: Conference: https://www.aspi.org.au/event/strategic-vision-2020-aspi-conference-series Guests in this episode: Louisa Bochner: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/louisa-bochner Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian: https://www.axios.com/authors/baebrahimian/ Marcus Hellyer: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/marcus-hellyer Malcolm Davis: https://aspi.org.au/bio/malcolm-davis Tom Uren: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Fergus Ryan: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/fergus-ryan Background music: "The closest without going over" by The Whole Other - via the You Tube Audio Library.