Why organised crime is now a national security threat
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of serious and organised crime as a national security threat in Australia.
Why has serious and organised crime – estimated to cost Australia $82.3 billion each year – become a national security issue? How is the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) responding to this? What are the linkages between state actors and transnational and serious organised crime in Australia? What is the role of ACIC and other intelligence organisations in combating transnational crime? How does ACIC work with international partners? In this episode, Heather Cook joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the evolving landscape of transnational crime and its implications for national security in Australia. Heather Cook is Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology. She is a career intelligence professional with more than 33 years' experience. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes: NSC academic programs – find out more ACIC CEO ‘opens the books’ on serious and organised crime | National Security…
More episodes of The National Security Podcast
- Truth, trust and the algorithm: can democracy keep up?
- No worries? What Australians think about security, risk and resilience
- What is driving the war in Iran – and what comes next?
- Plotting a through line: February 2026 geopolitics update
- Modernising Australia's border security
- Pat Conroy on defence reform, industry and the Pacific
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The National Security Podcast podcast page.