CONTESTED GROUND: The Defence budget, inflationary pressures and domestic information warfare

About this episode

The episode discusses the government's messaging around the Defence budget and national security amidst inflation and domestic information warfare.

The release and messaging surrounding the 2026 National Defence Strategy and 2026 Integrated Investment Program is just the latest salvo in the government's effort to direct the national conversation about our national security. With the government emphasising major increases in Defence spending over the next decade, the government is hoping that the headline figures and a lack of public understanding of Defence spending will be enough to convince the nation we're doing enough to protect our interests. Hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper deep dive into the current battle for control of the narrative and the unfolding strategies being leveraged to target various Australian demographics, with specific examples in the economic domain as Australians face increasing inflation and fuel insecurity despite what they're being told. The trio also unpack the latest announcements around the winds of change sweeping through the Department of Defence, with the recent appointments to chief of Defence, chief of Army and the appointment of the new secretary of Defence designed to emphasise the government's priority areas: national resilience and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Steve Kuper

Topics covered

• Defence budget
• inflationary pressures
• domestic information warfare
• national security
• government strategy
• Department of Defence changes

Keywords

• Defence budget
• inflation
• national security
• Department of Defence
• government strategy
• Australia
• information warfare

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Department of Defence, National Defence Strategy, Integrated Investment Program

Places: Australia

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