National Security College
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Publication Open Access Addressing Australia's Vulnerability to Weaponised Narratives(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2018-03) Zappone, C.; Sussex, M.Publication Open Access Trusted, ethical, fast-moving and effective future police(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2019-02) Young, R; Meli, O.Publication Open Access Future Universities: Value for Changing Societies(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2020-04) Young, R.University sectors in Australia and across the world are facing an inflection point in their future trajectories. The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined business models built on international student income, radically changed the student experience and upended norms of academic behaviour - particularly around conferences and travel. It has also exposed a range of long term fragilities and deep challenges for universities to navigate. The second instalment in the Future Insights Paper series, Future Universities: Value for Changing Societies is authored by the Director of the NSC Futures Hub, Dr. Ryan Young, and produced with input from a wide range of experts concentrated around The Australian National University. This paper "?? which is based on a longer report by the author titled Australian Universities: Thriving in a Changing World? " is designed to help policy thinkers develop and test futures scenarios, conduct horizon scanning, and integrate futures analysis into their work. It focuses on two core questions: What trends and drivers will shape the operating context for Australian universities - particularly research-intensive universities - over the next decade? How can Australian universities ensure ongoing success and deliver increasing societal value?Publication Open Access Shaping the Quad's DNA: How can Quad Countries Manage Biotech's Opportunities and Risks?(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-04) van der Kley, DirkThis paper - authored by Dirk van der Kley from the School of Regulation and Global Governance - argues that biotechnology is set to be one of the most lucrative emerging technologies, offering an opportunity for Quad countries to cooperate on biotech standards, ethics, and joint research infrastructure. This opportunity also presents Quad countries a chance to play a role in shaping the biotechnology security debate. To ensure a common approach is taken to biotech, recommendations include a Biotech Standards Trade enabling program, a security and ethics dialogue, a Joint Research Infrastructure Sharing Arrangement, and an evolution of the Quad Vaccine Experts Group into a biotech dialogue with emerging countries. About the Quad Tech Network The Quad Tech Network (QTN) is an Australian Government initiative to promote Track 2 research and public dialogue on cyber and critical technology issues relevant to the Indo-Pacific region. As part of the initiative, research institutions in Australia (the National Security College at The Australian National University), India (the Observer Research Foundation), Japan (the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies) and the United States (Center for a New American Security) have commissioned papers on key issues facing the region. These papers - together, the QTN series - offer analysis and recommendations on shared challenges facing Australia and Indo-Pacific partners in the cyber and technology environment. The QTN is managed by the National Security College at The Australian National University, with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Publication Open Access China Inc. and Indonesia's Technology Future(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2022-03) van der Kley, D.; Herscovitch, B.; Priyandita, G.In this Policy Options Paper, the authors outline China's involvement in Indonesia's digital development. They argue that Australia, and other Quad countries, should offer alternatives to the Chinese state-back technology and training. Key Points "? Indonesia's technology choices will impact the regional contest for influence and technological leadership. Australia and other Quad countries need to do more to positively shape these choices. "? A lack of trained talent and infrastructure shortfalls are the biggest obstacles to further develop Indonesia's digital industries. "? Huawei and other firms backed by the Chinese government are providing free large-scale technology training to Indonesian officials, professionals, and students. Huawei alone is training tens of thousands of Indonesians every year. This is steering Indonesia's current and future tech leaders towards Chinese technology. "? Australia and other Quad countries do not have a coherent or well-resourced response to China's approach. Australia's focus on cyber norms and security misses Indonesia's needs for concrete technical training. Key Recommendations "? Australia, in concert with other Quad countries, should deliver a vocational technology training program that is large enough to genuinely improve Indonesia's technology capacity and offer alternatives to Chinese state-backed technology and training. "? Large tech firms from Quad countries should contribute their technology and expertise to an internationally accredited vocational program. Australia's vocational education and training sector should also help develop people-to-people and educational links with Indonesia.Publication Open Access Conservation through synthetic biology(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2023-04) Titus, AlexanderIn this publication, Dr Alexander Titus talks about how the Quad countries can play a leading role by: raising awareness of synthetic biology's conservation potential||and demonstrating the utility of existing governance mechanisms.Publication Open Access The Significance and Strategic Context of the 2021 New Caledonia Independence Referendum(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-04) Thompson, S.In this paper from the NSC's Occasional Briefing series, Associate professor Sue Thompson outlines the significance and strategic context of the 2021 New Caledonia Independence Referendum.Publication Open Access Building Cooperation: Cyber, Critical Technology and National Security(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-01) Takahashi, Kohei; Ide, Tatsuo; Takahashi, Ikuo; Tokito, Kazuo; Sasaki, TakahiroThe novel coronavirus pandemic has illustrated the significant role of states in enacting effective multilateral responses toward the pandemic, which has transformed the relationship between individuals and states. However, the pandemic has also revealed the vulnerability of international governmental and non-governmental organisations. Several rivals are taking advantage of the pandemic to advance "?grey zone"? strategies, such as economic coercion, cyber operations, and low-intensity violence. These operations include cyber-driven cognitive attacks, such as dissemination of fake news. Similarly-inclined democratic states should cooperate and coordinate effective multilateral responses against grey zone tactics. Primarily, experts from academia and think tanks should be able to discuss such issues among their counterparts from allied democratic states in a forum where all participants respect the principles of transparency and freedom of expression. This paper discusses key issues in national security, cyber security, and critical technologies for Japan. It has four sections: (1) Critical Technology in the Field of Defense: A Comparison between NATO and Japan (2) Laws and Policies for Cyber and Critical Technologies in Japan (3) Deterrence and Arms Races in Cyber Space||and (4) Chinese Cyber Warfare and Japan's Response. The final section offers specific suggests on the development of Australia's forthcoming International Cyber and Critical Technology Engagement Strategy, as well as the Quad Tech Network (QTN). About the QTN Series The Quad Tech Network (QTN) is an Australian Government initiative to promote regional Track 2 research and public dialogue on cyber and critical technology issues. This paper is part of a series of papers by universities and think tanks in Australia (the National Security College at The Australian National University), India (the Observer Research Foundation), Japan (the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies) and the United States (Center for a New American Security). The QTN series offers analysis and recommendations on shared challenges facing Australia and Indo-Pacific partners across four themes: "? international peace and security "? connectivity and regional resilience "? human rights and ethics, and "? national security. The QTN is managed by the National Security College at The Australian National University, with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Publication Open Access A 2020 Vision for Five Eyes: New Structures for New Challenges(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2020-04) Stoltz, William A.In the latest NSC Policy Options Paper, William A. Stoltz explores a 2020 vision for Five Eyes. Key points: Five Eyes has been a primarily operational grouping, but it is starting to broaden collaboration - particularly to address COVID-19 recovery. Five Eyes needs new planning structures if it is to undertake more concerted, strategic initiatives. To address the greatest security challenges to the liberal international order, like-minded nations must collaborate on new frontiers - including geoeconomics, cyber and critical technologies, and strategic diplomacy. There is momentum for a broader coalition of democracies (like a "?D-10') to address these global challenges, but there are major barriers to the formation and success of such a group. Policy recommendations: The Australian Government should leverage its Five Eyes partnerships and credibility as a constructive middle power to advocate for an expanded, more formally coordinated Five Eyes. A Five Eyes Leaders Summit should be established, informed by a Secretariat which would develop options for new joint activities and strategic planning. An expanded, more strategic Five Eyes should be used as the nucleus for a global coalition of democracies.Publication Open Access A Regrettable Necessity: The Future of Australian Covert Action(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2022-02) Stoltz, William A.In this Occasional Paper, Dr William A. Stoltz deeply analyses the most unexamined component of Australia's international statecraft, covert action. Such activity by intelligence agencies has become an increased focus of academic research internationally, and Dr Stoltz's paper introduces an Australian perspective to the debate, in this the 70th anniversary year of the establishment of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. The paper provides a resource to understand Australia's approach to covert action historically, how it needs to change, and what policy measures could achieve this evolution. It comprises three parts: Part One leverages recently declassified material to provide the most comprehensive explanation of Australia's approach to covert action yet published. It also outlines the strengths and limitations of covert action as a tool of Australian power, with insights from recent British and American scholarship. Part Two reflects on Australia's approach to covert action in light of the great power competition defining Australia's future strategic environment. Part Three provides policy options for bolstering Australia's relevant capability and instituting an approach to using covert action that is coherent with the government's wider international objectives. The NSC's Occasional Papers comprise peer-reviewed research and analysis concerning national security issues at the forefront of academic and policy inquiry. They are designed to stimulate public discourse and inform policy solutions. The NSC is independent in its activities, research and editorial judgment and does not take institutional positions on policy issues. Accordingly, the author is solely responsible for the views expressed in this publication, which should not be taken as reflecting the views of any government or organisation.Publication Open Access Improving National Security Governance: Options for Strengthening Cabinet Control and Parliamentary Oversight(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-04) Stoltz, William A.Following decades of investment, legislative reform, and structural adaptation to changing threats, Australia's national security apparatus is now one of the most complex and sophisticated in the world. Yet, the Parliamentary and ministerial structures for guiding Australia's national security institutions have evolved surprisingly little. The result is that Australia's Parliament and Cabinet face a number of limitations to scrutinising and guiding our security and intelligence organisations. This Policy Options Paper - authored by the College's Senior Adviser for Public Policy William Stoltz - proposes reforms to bolster the capacity of our leaders to hold national security institutions accountable as Australia moves into an era of heightened strategic complexity and risk.Publication Open Access Enhancing global biosecurity: strategies for agile crisis response(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2023-04) Sato, HeigoIn this publication, Heigo Sato talks about why addressing biosecurity when making security policy is critical and how the Quad can work towards establishing an international and regional response mechanisms for biosecurity and biosafety.Publication Open Access The Strategic Implications of Manipulative Digital Platforms: A Trust-Driven Approach(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2020-04) Rogers, ZacAustralia's strategic environment is rapidly changing. The most measurable changes are shifts in the regional balance of power and intensifying competition for influence in the Indo-Pacific. These developments have been complicated and exacerbated by the uncertainty generated by the presidency of Donald Trump, and most recently by unpredictable but not unexpected events such as COVID-19. Yet in many ways, shifting power balances based on conflicting interests between geopolitical actors - and unpredictable events - are the normal cycles of international politics. Less obvious (but arguably of greater concern) are fundamental technology-driven changes in how power flows among networks of actors and institutions, and how conflicting interests are contested and mediated in a disrupted information environment. Key points Consumer-facing digital platforms are components of a manipulative regime of technologies, designed to monitor and modify people's behaviours and preferences. These platforms are widely exploited by domestic and foreign actors for commercial, political and strategic ends. Foreign adversaries also benefit from the social and political vulnerabilities the normal daily use of these technologies exacerbate within democracies. Manipulative technologies can weaken public trust in institutions and deplete the social capital which upholds our convention- based society. Trust - as the bedrock of a convention-based society - has become a key battleground between states. It should be understood and protected as a strategic resource. Policy recommendations National security agencies should pay close attention to the security consequences of manipulative technologies, and play a stronger supporting role in policy development led by other portfolios - for example, competition and consumer protection, industrial design, technology standard setting, public education, and media policy. Agencies should prioritise, with dedicated resources, strategic engagement across all relevant portfolios on the use and governance of digital technologies, including flow on impacts on trust.Publication Open Access The Digital Indo-Pacific: Regional Connectivity and Resilience(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-01) Ray, Trisha; Jain, Sangeet; Jayakumar, Arjun; Reddy, AnuragThe aim of this paper is to lay a foundation for inclusive collaboration toward a Digital Indo-Pacific, which accounts for the region's differing but complementary strengths. A relatively new entrant in geopolitical nomenclature, the 'Indo-Pacific' has expanded to capture several ideas: the rule of law, balancing against China's rise, strengthening regional institutions, and, most recently, securing technology and information flows. The four sections of this paper - Minerals and Technology Manufacturing||Digital Economy and Adoption||Inclusive Digital Transformation||and Regimes - represent a 'four-layer' framework for analysis. This paper analyses seven countries - India, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia - all representing different systems of governance, demographic drivers, levels of maturity of digital ecosystems, and economic models. The Conclusions and Recommendations section identifies pathways for collaboration condensed into ten recommendations.Publication Open Access Defining Thresholds in Law - Sophisticated Decryption and Law Enforcement(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2018-02) Mosey, M.; Henschke, A.Publication Open Access Stopping the spread: Conspiracy theory and security practice(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2022-02) Mortensen, J.; Gibson, A.This paper, by Dr James Mortensen and Dr Andrew Gibson, draws on psychological research to understand how fear and anxiety drive conspiracy thinking, and how the Australian security community can respond to minimise risks - or at least avoid increasing them.Publication Open Access Australia and the United Kingdom: an Indo-Pacific security agenda for a revitalised partnership(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2022-01) Medcalf, R.; Nouwens, V.The stMedcalf, Rory, Rory and Royal United Services Institute Senior Research Fellow Veerle Nouwens identify practical ways to deepen the Australia-United Kingdom strategic partnership in meeting the challenges of a contested Indo-Pacific. The report builds on ideas raised in the 2021 Indo-Pacific 1.5 Track Virtual Strategic Dialogue between Australia and the UK, convened by the ANU National Security College (NSC) and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), as well as incorporating the authors' insights. The NSC and RUSI acknowledge the support of the Australian Government (through DFAT and the Australian High Commission in London) in funding assistance for the dialogue and this publication.Publication Open Access The Domestic Security Grey Zone: Navigating the Space Between Foreign Influence and Foreign Interference(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-01) Mansted, KatherineAustralia has been a global first mover in updating its legislation, policy and bureaucratic structure to manage foreign influence risk in the 21st century. Australia's response has focused on criminalising, disrupting and deterring the most pernicious form of foreign influence - foreign interference. However, a 'grey zone' is emerging between acceptable foreign influence activities and unlawful foreign interference. This paper asks: how should Australia address foreign influence that falls short of interference, but is nonetheless inconsistent with Australian values, interests or sovereignty? Who is this paper for? While this paper focuses on Australia, its analysis and findings are intended to be relevant across democracies. Australia has been a "canary in the coal mine"?in its experience of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) foreign interference, as well as a first mover in responding. It is well-positioned to continue to create new standards of international best practice in ways that both protect citizens' political rights and freedoms, and Australia's sovereignty, values and interests. The paper recommends that Australia's response be guided by four principles: Active transparency: Australia has a range of foreign influence 'transparency' measures. These include the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS), and the new public register of state government, local government, and public university 'foreign arrangements' established by the Foreign Relations Act (2020). The next step is to ensure information about foreign interference is collected and presented in meaningful ways, and its significance is contextualised and explained. Decision-makers in civil society, business and government should be empowered with guidance and options for how to respond to foreign influence information. Country agnostic, but context-aware: Australia adopts a 'country agnostic' approach to the administration and enforcement of its foreign interference offences. However, for foreign influence short of interference, there is a need for decision-makers to pay closer attention to the political context of the source country. This includes understanding the source country's broader foreign policy and strategic objectives, and how the source country deals with influence in its own political system. It should also include considering whether there is reciprocity in the relationship - that is, whether influence is permitted to flow both ways. Prioritise democratic political rights and social cohesion: Any step-up in Australia's response to foreign influence should be designed to defend and support social cohesion, trust in institutions and individual rights. Empower a decentralised response: There is a role for active monitoring of foreign influence risk by government in some contexts, and existing foreign interference laws should be enforced. However, the most important policy responses will be those that build the institutional capacity of social and economic actors to identify problematic foreign influence and to push back or build resilience to its effects. To operationalise these four principles, this paper offers policy options including: Adopt a foreign influence continuum: There is an opportunity to move policy frameworks and public discourse beyond a binary divide between 'influence' and 'interference' and instead to think of foreign influence along a continuum of risk to Australia's values, interests and sovereignty. Establish an independent Sovereignty Commissioner: A publicly visible commissioner could play a key role in implementing 'active transparency' by assembling and disseminating information to help decision-makers and the public understand the context of individual acts of foreign influence, and the actors and methods of foreign interference. Create a dedicated national online portal for foreign influence risk: A portal could include standard guidance for assessing foreign influence risk and clearer, more responsive mechanisms for triaging and responding to concerns about potential interference. Ideally, the portal would not be managed by a national security agency, but an appropriately resourced independent commissioner's office. Update legislation to capture 'precursors' to interference: Legislation should be updated to capture activities and behaviours which are precursors to, or create opportunities for, unwelcome foreign influence. This should include both reviewing laws, and better resourcing responses and enforcement, in the areas of disinformation, data protection and privacy. Support a robust, independent media: There is a need to protect Australian media freedom and plug gaps in its media ecosystem. Key lines of effort should include: increasing support for independent foreign-language content, addressing regional and local government 'news droughts' and removing impediments to free and fair reporting on national security matters. Recalibrate and expand foreign influence reporting obligations: FITS should be updated to ensure the register presents useful and meaningful information. There is also a need to equip the body administering the scheme with resources to engage in outreach and more calibrated powers short of enforcement action (such as the ability to issue guidance and binding notices).Publication Open Access This Connection is Secure: A 5G Risk and Resilience Framework for the Quad(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2021-03) Kuehn, A.; Ray, T.In the latest paper from the QTN series, the authors - Andreas Kuehn and Trisha Ray from the Observer Research Foundation - argue that the Quad countries need to devise effective ways to jointly manage risk and strengthen resilience of 5G components, domestic and foreign networks and global supply chains. They recommend that a common framework for 5G risk and resilience could help Quad countries allocate efforts and resources - including building the needed capacities to monitor and manage risk and resilience - to improve recovery and business continuation of 5G networks, as well as associated supply chains.Publication Open Access From secrecy to agency: trust and policy implications of shifting attitudes to privacy(Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, 2019-01) Henschke, A.; Young, R.; Gould, M.; Smith, H.