“The future is expensive” – managing cost-of-living while investing in security
About this episode
The episode discusses how Australia can manage national security investments while addressing cost-of-living challenges.
How should government balance national preparedness with cost-of-living pressures? Can Australia strengthen fuel security, defence capability and supply chain resilience without undermining productivity and living standards? How do economic pressures, housing stress and inequality shape public trust – and what does that mean for national security? In this episode, Aruna Sathanapally, Richard Denniss and Michael Stutchbury join Rory Medcalf to examine the intersection of national security, economic pressure and social resilience. Dr Richard Denniss is co-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at The Australia Institute. Dr Aruna Sathanapally is CEO at the Grattan Institute. Michael Stutchbury is Executive Director at The Centre for Independent Studies. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College (NSC). His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Note: this episode was recorded at NSC’s Securing our Future: a ready and resilient Australia conference on 24 March 2026. TRANSCRIPT Show notes:  …
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