ASPI Podcast: Policy, Guns & Money

In this episode, ASPI’s Dr Huong Le Thu talks Australia's Ambassador to Vietnam, Her Excellency Robyn Mudie, about the situation on the ground in Vietnam and the lessons to be learnt from the country's response to Covid-19. Next, senior analyst Dr Jake Wallis and research intern Albert Zhang chatted about their recent research on Covid-19 disinformation and social media manipulation and the rise in patriotic trolling campaigns in support of China on social media platforms. Finally, ASPI's Professional Development Program Coordinator Julia Butler spoke to research interns Daria Impiombato and Tracy Beattie about the intersection of conflict and crisis and the potential impacts of a large Covid-19 outbreak in conflict-ridden Yemen and Myanmar. * NOTE: In this interview, Daria slips and mentions that '100 people have died in the Yemeni war' - what was intended of course was the figure '100,000'. In this episode: Dr Huong Le Thu https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Ms Robyn Mudie https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/homs/Pages/ambassador-to-vietnam Dr Jake Wallis https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/jacob-wallis Albert Zhang https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/albert-zhang Julia Butler https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/julia-butler Daria Impiombato https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/daria-impiombato Tracy Beattie https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tracy-beattie Background music: "Cages" by Density & Time, via the You Tube Audio Library.

In episode three of Australia’s Next Steps, host Michael Shoebridge talks to Alison Pennington, Senior Economist at the Centre for Future Work associated with the Australian Institute, and Tom Murphy, Head of Agriculture and Regional Investment Strategy with the Queensland Investment Corporation about the future of nation building for Australia. The discussion centres on the Australian economy, focusing on the strengths and resilience demonstrated throughout the pandemic that can be leveraged as Australia rebuilds post-crisis. Background music: "Under Cover" by Wayne Jones, via the YouTube audio library.

"Fakes are all around us. Academic analysis suggests that they’re difficult to spot without new sensors, software or other specialised equipment, with 1 in 5 photos you see being fraudulent." In this episode of Policy, Guns & Money, Danielle Cave speaks to authors Hannah Smith and Katherine Mansted about the research behind their recent ASPI report. The report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/weaponised-deep-fakes People in this episode: Danielle Cave - Deputy Director, ICPC: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/danielle-cave Hannah Smith - Researcher ICPC: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/hannah-smith Katherine Mansted: Senior Adviser Public Policy, National Security College, ANU: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/people/professional/katherine-mansted Background music: "Scarab" by Quincas Moreira - via the YouTube Audio Library.

Welcome to ASPI’s mini-series, ‘Australia’s Next Steps’, brought to you by Oracle. Episode Two looks at the future of work in Australia. For many, the pandemic has changed our daily working lives, and has allowed businesses to realise both the benefits and drawbacks to this style of work. Host, Michael Shoebridge, Director of ASPI’s Defence, Strategy and National Security Program, talks to Brenda Banning, Head of Architecture & Industry Strategy at Oracle, and David Schofield, Principal Consultant for leadership, teams and organisational culture with Bendelta. They discuss how the pandemic changed the future of work for Australia, what we have learned and adapted, and where may need further development. Background music: "Under Cover" by Wayne Jones, via the YouTube audio library.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, Kelly Smith speaks to ICPC’s Vicky Xu, Kelsey Munro, and Nathan Ruser, authors of ASPI’s ‘Uyghurs for sale’ - the ground-breaking report which exposes the forced labour programs being inflicted on the Uyghur population of Xinjiang, China. They discuss their open-source research approach and the impact the report has had. Report: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale Vicky Xu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/vicky-xiuzhong-xu Kelsey Munro: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/kelsey-munro Nathan Ruser: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/nathan-ruser Background music: "A Quiet Thought" by Wayne Jones, via the You-Tube Audio Library.

Welcome to ASPI’s new mini-series podcast, ‘Australia’s Next Steps’. ASPI, together with Oracle, is excited to launch the first episode of a new podcast that examines Australia’s strategic environment, opportunities for the future and the possible next steps for the nation. Episode One examines the future of national security for Australia and the outlook for our region. Host Michael Shoebridge, Director of ASPI’s Defence, Strategy and National Security Program, talks to ASPI’s Executive Director, Peter Jennings and Senior ASPI analyst, Dr Huong Le Thu.

In this episode of Policy, Guns and Money, Lisa Sharland, head of ASPI's International Program speaks to Dr Anna Powles, senior lecturer in security studies at Massey University for an update on the impact of Covid-19 on the Pacific. Kelly Smith catches up with Colonel Ned Holt, ASPI's US Army War College Fellow to get some tips on looking after yourself while in isolation in difficult circumstances. Dr Huong Le Thu, Senior Analyst at ASPI speaks with Dr Donald Greenlees of Melbourne Universities Asialink on the impact Covid-19 is having in Indonesia. In this episode: Lisa Sharland: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/lisa-sharland Dr Anna Powles: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=287250 Colonel Ned C. Holt: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/ned-c-holt Dr Huong Le Thu: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/huong-le-thu Dr Donald Greenlees: https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/leadership-team/donald-greenlees ASPI Roundtable: ICT and emerging technologies in the Pacific: https://youtu.be/EP7ll28kOTg Background music: "Fountation" by Vibe Tracks via the You Tube Audio Library.

In this episode, ASPI’s Genevieve Feely speaks to Dr Sue Harris-Rimmer, Gender Policy Expert and Associate Professor at Griffith University Law School, about the Afghanistan peace process and why it's so important that women are represented and their rights protected in any agreement that is made Michael Shoebridge talks to Emeritus Professor Paul Dibb about the implications of Covid-19 for Russia, Vladimir Putin and Russia’s relationship with China. Finally, Charlie Lyons Jones speaks to Dr Malcolm Davis about how Covid-19 is impacting the space industry, how space is the new arena for strategic competition and how space has enabled effective connectivity to deal with a workforce working remotely. In this episode: Dr Susan Harris Rimmer - https://experts.griffith.edu.au/7374-susan-harris-rimmer Genevieve Feely - https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/genevieve-feely Prof Paul Dibb - http://sdsc.bellschool.anu.edu.au/experts-publications/experts/paul-dibb-am Michael Shoebridge - https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Dr Malcolm Davis - https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/malcolm-davis Charlie Lyon Jones https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/charlie-lyons-jones Background music: "Lost Time" by 'Evening Land' via the YouTube audio library.

In this episode; ASPI’s Lisa Sharland talks to Richard Gowan, International Crisis Group's UN Director, to discuss the International Crisis Group’s recent report: "Covid-19 and Conflict: Seven Trends to Watch". The report is available here: https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb4-covid-19-and-conflict-seven-trends-watch Earlier this year Bart Hogeveen of ASPI's ICPC released the report: "ICT for development in the Pacific Islands". Bart speaks with Louisa Bochner about the report and his work assessing e-governance facilities in the Pacific. The report is available here: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/ict-development-pacific-islands Finally, ICPC's Tom Uren and ASPI's Director of Defence, Strategy & National Security Michael Shoebridge discuss how Australia's Defence department has adapted to changing roles and whether the organisation's structure and processes are fit for purpose or a redesign is needed. People in this episode: Richard Gowan: https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/people/richard-gowan Lisa Sharland: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/lisa-sharland Bart Hogeveen: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/bart-hogeveen Louisa Bochner: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/louisa-bochner Tom Uren: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/tom-uren Michael Shoebridge: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/michael-shoebridge Background music: "The Missing Link" by The Whole Other - via the YouTube Audio Library.

This special episode marks the publication of ASPI's Counterterrorism Yearbook for 2020. This is the fourth annual edition of the CT Yearbook and while circumstance dictates we cannot host our traditional launch at the ASPI Auditorium, we invite you to listen to this special episode and join in the conversation about this incredibly important topic. In this episode, we hear an introduction from ASPI Executive Director, Peter Jennings, followed by a conversation between the publication’s co-author John Coyne and Executive Editor of The Strategist, Brendan Nicholson. John then speaks with contributing authors Peta Lowe, Principal Consultant at Phronesis Consulting, and ICPC’s Elise Thomas. As the publication and podcast detail, the threat of terrorism has plateaued at an unacceptably high level, and as attention in the news cycle is focussed on COVID-19, this report shines a light on an important topic for national security that must be addressed. You can download the ASPI CT Yearbook 2020 here: aspi.org.au/report/counterterrorism-yearbook-2020 In this episode: Peter Jennings: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/peter-jennings John Coyne: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/john-coyne Brendan Nicholson: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/brendan-nicholson Peta Lowe: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/peta-lowe Elise Thomas: https://www.aspi.org.au/bio/elise-thomas Background music: "Low" by ELPHNT, via the YouTube Audio Library.