Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Contested Ground

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with financial intelligence expert and author, Keith Bulfin as they unpack the intricacies of the global financial systems and the weaponisation of the institutions by organised crime, terrorist and state-backed networks.

The pair discuss a range of subjects including the ramifications of lax regulation and enforcement, that has resulted in significant funding, resources and technology making its way to organised crime and rogue regimes, especially Iran.

• Mr Bulfin's experience working for the US Department of Justice and consulting with law enforcement and intelligence communities on the financial networks of organised crime organisations like the Mexican cartels and their overlap with terror organisations.
• The interconnected ecosystems linking organised criminal enterprises, paramilitary and terror groups through hubs in the Middle East, particularly via hubs in Iran, the UAE, Asia and Africa.
• The diverse areas of growth focus for these organisations as they seek to collaborate and circumvent traditional law and intelligence countermeasures to expand their operational impact and revenue streams.
• The challenges presented by the growing symbiotic relationship between traditionally isolated organisations, that now share common objectives and means for furthering their business, or political reach.
• The continuing flow of "black money" from nations like China and India, that continue to flow into Australia, exposing our economy to major vulnerabilities across areas like real estate, consumer goods and services.

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The Contested Ground Team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret'd) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia's energy system.

The trio begin by discussing the Australian government's rhetoric around the nation's liquid fuel supplies, its access to the global energy markets and the immediate ramifications of the ongoing throttling of oil flows out of the Middle East.

As part of this, they unpack the state of Australia's liquid fuel stockpiles, the challenges governments face in moving to "calm" the Australian public and prevent a run on the nation's limited crude oil reserves.

They also discuss the decline in the nation's refining capacity, our dependence on foreign refined fuel imports from south-east Asia and the implications for national security and resilience.

Finally, they unpack the policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities that face Australia's policymakers and the immediate steps we can take to build national resilience.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and new co-host, Steve Kuper, detail the intricacies of the proposed Russia–Ukraine peace deal announced by US President Donald Trump.

The trio also unpack three emerging security issues: a proposed Russia–Ukraine peace deal, heightened Chinese activity in the northern Pacific, and suspected Russian sabotage operations in Europe.

The peace proposal centres on a 30-day ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and Ukraine conceding or freezing control of occupied territories. Ukraine would permanently renounce NATO membership, cap its military at around 600,000 personnel, and restrict long-range weapons. In return, the US and its partners would offer conditional security guarantees and gradually lift sanctions, with up to US$100 billion in frozen Russian assets used for reconstruction.

Chinese maritime activity has intensified, with five survey vessels operating in the north-west Pacific during major US-led exercises. Pacific analysts warn this undersea mapping may support future conflict planning.

In the UK, authorities are investigating whether Russia planted an incendiary parcel that ignited in a DHL warehouse, potentially linked to a similar case in Germany, part of a suspected GRU "mayhem" hybrid campaign.

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The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Liam Garman, and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack two unfolding challenges shaping Australia's strategic outlook, an Iran-linked cyber breach exposing sensitive defence data, and China's latest move to outmanoeuvre Canberra in the Pacific.

The discussion opens with the major cyber breach linked to Iran-aligned actors, exposing sensitive information from Australian defence programs through vulnerabilities in overseas contractors. Thompson warns that modern military platforms are now fully digital extensions of the network, and that the Australian Defence Force risks becoming collateral damage without stronger supply-chain defence.

The hosts then turn to the Pacific, where China has unveiled a record $86 million aid package to Vanuatu, a direct counter to the Albanese government's stalled security pact. Garman notes the diplomatic setback highlights the limits of Australia's traditional leverage, with Port Vila reluctant to jeopardise its economic ties with Beijing.

The conversation also covers China's commissioning of its first fully indigenous aircraft carrier, signalling a major step in Beijing's push for blue-water naval capability.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Liam Garman, and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack how shifting defence alliances and Middle Eastern instability are reshaping national security.

The conversation opens with Australia's growing regional partnerships, including the Australia–Singapore cooperation agreement and the new defence pact with Papua New Guinea, and how they strengthen deterrence amid China's rising Pacific influence.

Thompson highlights the strategic value of Singapore's training operations in Shoalwater Bay and the expansion of joint science, technology, and logistics programs to bolster regional readiness.

The hosts then turn to the Middle East, discussing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas' re-emergence and the potential for renewed conflict. Garman warns that unrest abroad can spill into domestic division, referencing protests in Sydney and the challenges of maintaining unity at home.

The discussion also touches on the return of ISIS brides to Australia, questioning how the government balances compassion, citizenship, and security.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Liam Garman, and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack how Australia's shifting information and economic environment is deepening social rifts and reshaping national security.

Tarrant opens with the housing debate, questioning whether allowing buyers into the market with just a 5 per cent deposit strengthens opportunity or fuels instability. Garman warns that financial strain on younger Australians could erode national unity.

The conversation turns to data sovereignty and AI infrastructure, and how Australia must strengthen data protection and build infrastructure capable of expanding a sovereign AI industry.

The hosts also explore the evolving information and cyber domain, warning that influence operations and online manipulation are amplifying social division, examining a number of online influence campaigns.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the Honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for home affairs, for a hard-hitting discussion on the shifting nature of Australia's national security challenges.

No longer confined to conventional defence or counter-terrorism, the security debate now spans economic sovereignty, industrial security, and social cohesion. Against the backdrop of recent revelations of Iranian espionage attempts on Australian soil, Hastie warns that hostile foreign actors are probing Australia's vulnerabilities, not only in cyber space and critical infrastructure, but in the trust that underpins our diverse society.

Throughout the conversation, Hastie shares how his perspective has sharpened since stepping into the shadow portfolio following his time as shadow minister for Defence. He outlines the emerging contest for resilience – whether in defending supply chains, protecting advanced technologies, or insulating the national economy from coercion.

Kuper presses Hastie on the domestic implications of foreign espionage operations, particularly the way they threaten multicultural harmony and fuel social division. Hastie stresses that Australia must be proactive in countering influence operations, strengthening intelligence partnerships, and reinforcing trust across society.

The discussion then broadens to the strategic importance of resilience, a whole-of-nation approach that prepares Australians not just to respond to crises, but to withstand them.

Hastie points to key policy gaps, from weak industrial capacity to fragmented national planning, and calls for a more integrated framework that links defence, economy, and society into a coherent security posture.

As Australia navigates an increasingly contested world, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what security really means. The conversation offers sharp insights into how Australia can adapt to a new era of threats and why resilience must sit at the heart of any credible national security agenda.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the escalating role of information warfare in today's conflicts.

From the mobile phone's transformation into a weapon to the blurred lines between propaganda and "information operations", the team dissects how truth itself has become contested ground.

The conversation explores the challenges of navigating a "post-truth" world dominated by political tribalism, misinformation, and the weaponisation of narratives. The hosts reflect on conflicts such as Gaza, where competing lobbies and real-time social media footage shape global perceptions.

They also examine Australia's role within the Five Eyes alliance, including revelations of restricted intelligence sharing around the Ukraine peace talks – a development that could reshape international cooperation and Canberra's strategic outlook.

The team rounds out the discussion with broader geopolitical and domestic challenges, from US talk of military action in Latin America to Australia's housing affordability crisis – all underlining the reality that contestation extends far beyond the battlefield.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dissect the forces shaping Australia's national security in an increasingly volatile world.

From the shortage of tradespeople to the sustainability of the nuclear submarine program, the team explores how domestic economic realities – including the property market – intersect with defence capability. 

The conversation turns to the AUKUS arrangement, as Thompson questions whether Australia's defence budget can support the ambitions of the trilateral pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. The hosts unpack the risks of over-prioritising certain branches of the ADF and debate whether political change would have altered the trajectory of defence spending.

The team then discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood – with conditions excluding Hamas from governance. They assess the potential impact on relations with Israel – a nation that has long shared intelligence and counter-terrorism support with Australia – and on Canberra's role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The discussion also delves into public sentiment, with Tarrant highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the difficulty of separating moral imperatives from strategic realities.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant are joined by Simon Bergman, CEO of M+C Saatchi World Services, to unpack the evolving landscape of grey zone warfare and the role of creative industries in modern conflict.

Drawing on decades of operational and commercial experience, Bergman explores how advertising expertise is being harnessed to support government information operations: crafting narratives, influencing audiences, and shaping perceptions in the contested information environment.

Thompson and Bergman discuss the cultural and operational divide between government and industry, and how M+C Saatchi World Services is bridging this gap through a hybrid team of former military personnel and creative professionals. Together, they examine how this model can enable faster, more effective responses in the grey zone.

The conversation also turns to the impact of artificial intelligence on information warfare. While acknowledging AI's ability to enhance speed and reach, Bergman stresses the irreplaceable value of human insight in crafting authentic, effective messaging.

Finally, the team reflects on Australia's information warfare capability, with Thompson calling for greater investment and deeper collaboration with industry to keep pace with adversaries operating below the threshold of open conflict.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the Cambodia–Thai military confrontation and Australia's economic landscape.

Tarrant and Thompson begin the podcast reflecting on Exercise Talisman Sabre, highlighting how the biennial drills continue to grow in scale and strategic significance with the involvement of multiple partner nations, the live-fire deployment of HIMARS systems, and the strengthening of interoperability between allied forces.

The conversation then turns to rising regional tensions, specifically, the flare-up on the Cambodia–Thailand border. Garman explores the historical context behind the clashes and the implications of leaked diplomatic communications, offering a broader perspective on the fluid and often volatile nature of Southeast Asian geopolitics.

Zooming out further, the hosts examine internal shifts within the Chinese military. Thompson analyses the recent purges of senior People's Liberation Army figures and what these changes might signal about Beijing's strategic posture in the lead-up to the widely discussed 2027 timeline regarding Taiwan.

Finally, the team brings the conversation back to Australian shores, with Tarrant raising concerns over domestic defence priorities while Garman shares his concerns over the national security implications of Australia's sluggish economy.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman, editor of Cyber Daily, is joined by Kostas Siourthas, founder and CEO of TomorrowX; Rob Parker, partner at Deloitte; and cyber security leader Dr Marcus Thompson for an in-depth discussion on the future of data protection and innovation in the digital age.

The episode was recorded at Deloitte's Sydney headquarters, where the panel explored how TomorrowX is reimagining cyber security by focusing on the movement and protection of data – rather than traditional infrastructure or application-centric models.

• Siourthas unpacked how Tomorrow X's data-centric platform enables organisations to apply security policies at the packet level and even add multifactor authentication to legacy systems – a task that was previously resource-heavy and complex.
• Parker elaborates on the limitations of conventional network security in today's encrypted world, and how TomorrowX's composable, low-code architecture empowers business analysts to better manage data flows without relying on developers – reducing deployment timelines from months to weeks.
• Thompson shares real-world context around legacy system risk, referencing the recent superannuation credential stuffing attacks, and outlines how TomorrowX provides a cost-effective pathway to modernise outdated systems without full replacement.
• Finally, the trio reflect on what's next for cyber security, why edge-case vulnerabilities remain one of the industry's biggest risks, and why now is the time for proactive, data-first strategies.

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the US–Israeli strikes against Iran and the ramifications for Australia.

The trio lays the foundation for a mini-series of focused podcast conversations over the coming weeks to address the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on Australia and the Australian public.

These topics will include engaging conversations with a range of experts across the following:

• The impact on social cohesion and the rise of foreign interference in Australia's diaspora communities.
• Australia's declining industrial sovereignty and the impact of contested, frayed and interrupted supply chains.
• The economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia's cost-of-living crisis and the fuel security challenges Australia faces.
• The impact on Australia's key economic pillars and the connective tissue of logistic supply chains.
• Cyber security, disinformation and proxy activity in Australia.
• Migration and the challenges facing Australia's diaspora communities.
• Questions relating to Australia's geographic isolation and the psychology behind our "Tyranny of Distance" and the impact on Australia's security posture.
  Questions relating to what kind of "Middle Power" Australia wants to be.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the latest news and events contributing to national security in Australia.

They begin the podcast discussing Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, including how important these kinds of joint military training activities are for the interoperability between Western nations and the certainty of covert surveillance being carried out by adversaries.

The pair then discuss the recent visit to the People's Republic of China by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the geopolitical tightrope he must be walking between trading with the PRC and the AUKUS military commitments with the United States.

They wrap up the podcast discussing the recent and very public Qantas hack, as well as the potential flow-on impacts of the cyber security breach.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson explore Australia's readiness to meet its military needs and examine the country's role amid a rapidly changing global landscape.

They kick things off with a discussion on Commonwealth funding, before exploring the AUKUS agreement and whether its long-term success is at risk, especially in the context of political volatility in the US.

Turning their attention to the Middle East, they unpack recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Israel's evolving strategy, and what it all means for Western unity.

The episode wraps up with a reflection on Australia's waning strategic influence and how generational change in Washington could challenge the long-standing Australia–US alliance.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the latest from Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in India-Pakistan, and how diaspora groups are expanding conflict beyond country borders.

• They begin the podcast discussing Australian schoolteacher Oscar Jenkins, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Russia.
• The trio then discuss the India-Pakistan conflict, and how it has drawn in regional powers and diaspora groups. 
• They wrap up unpacking a European-Australian defence pact, and whether it will be sufficient to support Australian stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Tim Knight, author of the recently released book Gallipoli Soup, to discuss the Gallipoli campaign and how Knight used narrative to bring to life the challenges faced by both Australian and Turkish soldiers in World War I.

• The pair begin the podcast unpacking Knight's research methodology, and how a passion for understanding led him to write Gallipoli Soup.
• They discuss how the book was written in a narrative format, with some fictional characters based heavily on memoirs and diary entries from soldiers, to shine a light on the conditions in Gallipoli.
• Knight shares some of his key lessons of the campaign, including the geopolitical and political events that led to Gallipoli.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman discuss the application of cyber and information in the modern threat environment, and how the White House is changing voting behaviours across the West.

They begin the podcast by unpacking Thomas Rid's Cyber War Will Not Take Place, discussing the intricacies of cyber operations and how cyber continues to adhere to the Clausewitzian principles describing the political and physical dimensions of conflict.

The conversation then moves across the cyber spectrum to information operations and how cyber is a carriage of information that can be used to destabilise populations.

MAJGEN (Ret'd) Dr Thompson and Tarrant unpack Australia's response to global political uncertainty and the threat of tariffs, and how the White House administration is impacting elections across the globe.

The podcast wraps up looking at how democracies can use truth as a competitive advantage in the information space.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson discuss how businesses can build a culture of security in the modern work environment, protecting critical business IP. 

• They begin the podcast with a short book review of Stephen Gapps' Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, unpacking conflict in colonial Australia – and in particular, the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance.
• The conversation turns to information security and the regulation and legislation that guides the storing of personal data by businesses.
• The hosts then unpack how businesses can develop a culture of security through the development of systems and procedures to protect business IP. 

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant discuss the heroic actions of Australian soldiers in World War II, before turning to the big issues in the upcoming federal election.

• The pair begin the podcast discussing Joan Beaumont's book, Gull Force, and the treatment of Australian prisoners of war on the islands of Ambon and Hainan.
• They then discuss the role of Australia's Reserves in warfare, before unpacking the fundamental importance of seizing and holding ground in warfare.
• Thompson and Tarrant then turn to the upcoming federal election, unpacking some of the big issues facing Australian society, including housing policy and building forward-looking infrastructure for Australia's financial future.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the risk of alliance abandonment in the face of moves from the White House and their implications for a changing Asia-Pacific region.

• The podcast begins with an analysis into how fears of alliance abandonment have led to renewed commitments to national security collaboration between European powers.
• They then unpack whether "deal making" is a strong enough consideration to overcome ideological and philosophical partnerships in the competition for global power.
• Dr Thompson, Tarrant and Garman wrap up the podcast looking at hedging and balancing strategies in the Indo-Pacific, and whether realpolitik will take centre stage as nations continuously manoeuvre their alliance structures.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Liam Garman welcomes Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth, a cyber security expert and Cyber Uncut podcast host, to unpack the latest in hacking and cyber security in the new era of grey-zone warfare and nation-state cyber attacks.

They begin the podcast examining real world examples of warfare-motivated hacking, threat actors for hire, the impact of cyber threats and incidents for nations around the world.

They then discuss the differences between "smash-and-grab" ransomware attacks with persistent and embedded state-sponsored cyber attacks.

The podcast wraps up examining the increasing speed, accuracy and impact of cyber attacks on industry and government infrastructure across international lines.

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The Contested Ground team

 

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack the latest in the AI race, and how the United States is seeking to use tariffs to regain the economic edge.

• They begin the podcast examining the DeepSeek phenomenon, why Nvidia share prices took a hit, and looking under the hood to see if the tech is as good as advertised.
• They then look at the recent threats and imposition of tariffs and how this will impact the US, and whether a strengthening US dollar is indicative of growing consumer optimism.
• The podcast wraps up examining the relationship between foreign aid and national security and moves in the US to suspend aid.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Steve Kuper and Liam Garman speak with Agsecure's Andrew Henderson as they unpack the recently released US food security strategy.

The trio unpack the details underpinning the pivot in American thinking resulting in the development of the food security strategy.

They also discuss the key priorities and focus areas identified in the food security strategy, ranging from concerns around biosecurity, foreign ownership of agricultural land through to supply chain bottlenecks and constraints for key inputs.

The trio also unpack the lessons for Australia as we begin our own national conversation about our food security and the challenges we face despite exporting 70 per cent of our annual agricultural produce.

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As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what's in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis. This podcast represents the second of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest military and economic events, and how they impact us at home in Australia.

• The trio begin examining the recent appointment of Pete Hegseth as the US Secretary of Defense and how the incoming administration will shape the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
• They then look at the global economy, and whether the US economy will undergo a resurgence with a strengthening US dollar and an ambition to reduce the government's $36 trillion debt.

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The Contested Ground team

As the global economy and political environment continue to become increasingly unpredictable, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack what's in store for 2025 using diplomacy, information, military and economic (DIME) analysis.

This podcast represents the first of two episodes, where the hosts provide insight into the latest diplomatic and information events, and how they impact us at home in Australia.

• The trio begin by examining the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and whether it will likely hold in the current environment.
• They then turn to the Ukraine War and Britain's 100-year pledge.
• They then look at the incoming White House's approach to TikTok, and whether information should be considered a military domain.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where the trio unpack military and economic power.

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The Contested Ground team

How might the recent threat from US President-elect Donald Trump impact practitioners in this space?

In this recent crossover episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Jerome Doraisamy, editor of Lawyers Weekly, sat down with The Shipping Lawyer, Alison Cusack, to discuss the shipping law landscape in 2024 and what was learnt from that year, the recent threat from Donald Trump to take back control of the Panama Canal and the history of the canal (and lessons from the Suez Canal experience).

Cusack also discusses the frequency with which shipping lawyers have to adapt to geopolitical shifts and navigate client expectations.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman are joined by Momentum Media's senior defence and national security analyst and government relations manager, Steve Kuper, to discuss the latest geopolitical developments.

The trio discuss the key developments over the Christmas and New Year period that are setting the scene for a truly transformative midway point for the 2020s.

They also discuss:

• Ongoing diplomatic efforts by the incoming Trump administration to resolve the Russia–Ukraine war and the situation on the ground.
• The Boxing Day revelation of apparent sixth-generation fighter aircraft by the People's Republic of China and Beijing's ambitious ship commissioning schedule for 2025, which will dramatically reshape the balance of power.
• The implications of the incoming Trump administration on the global geopolitical and economic environment.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman discuss the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.

• They begin the podcast debating whether the unfolding Israel–Hamas conflict will have the same level of strategic significance for Israel as the Yom Kippur War or the Six-Day War.
• Tarrant, Thompson and Garman then discuss how the conflict has altered the balance of power in the Middle East, severing Iran's crescent of influence by weakening Hamas and Hezbollah, coupled with the fall of Assad.
• They wrap up the podcast examining what nations, if any, might assume the role of a security benefactor in the Middle East with a weakened Iran, and emerging open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection vectors.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the future of warfighting in the information domain.

• They begin the podcast unpacking major national security developments for 2024 and how global powers have continued to exploit the grey zone, before unpacking an absence of ownership of the information domain in Australia when examining the DIME construct – diplomacy, information, military, and economic.
• The trio then discuss Ukraine's exploitation of the information environment, and how the modern battlefield nevertheless reflects the Clauswitzian notion that the nature of war never changes.
• Tarrant, Thompson and Garman then predict how the incoming US administration will impact the conflict.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, special host Steve Kuper is joined by co-host Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson and AMP's chief economist, Shane Oliver, to discuss the latest economic data and what it means for the nation's economic and national security.

The trio discuss the recently released Australian gross domestic product figures and the impact of Australia's ailing economy on national security.

They also discuss:

• Australia's collapsing productivity and the growth of record government spending on the national economy and the baked-in, long-term structural deficits that will characterise the future fiscal outlook for the country.
• The need to boost economic complexity and diversity to better prepare the nation to face the mounting geopolitical and "whole-of-nation" efforts being leveraged against Australia in this new multipolar world and how best to deliver such a monumental change.
• The urgent need for a serious national debate with the Australian public about the future of the country and its economic future and the intersection of national security.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, special host Steve Kuper is joined by Jennifer Parker, expert associate at the National Security College, Australian National University and a former Navy officer, to discuss the growing need for an Australian Coast Guard.

The pair discuss the mounting level of hybrid and grey zone warfare in the maritime commons and economic exclusion zones across the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia, which has prompted a radical shift among regional nations seeking to secure their maritime interests.

The pair also discuss:

• The impact on the naval surface fleet as it is increasingly called upon to engage in maritime border patrol and security missions across Australia's vast maritime area of responsibility.
• The regional trend towards establishing a formalised Coast Guard to ease the burden on regional navies and a variety of models available for Australian consideration.
• The history of Australia's push towards developing a Coast Guard and the opportunity to provide an additional contributing capability for national security in the event of conflict in the region.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, Liam Garman and Phil Tarrant unpack findings from the Australian Signals Directorate's (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024 and the challenge of building a governance framework that disrupts the purveyors of disinformation. 

• The trio unpack findings from the ASD, in particular the ongoing risk Australia's critical infrastructure providers face at the hand of adversarial nation-state actors, and how Australia must prepare for this growing risk. 
• They then discuss what governance frameworks the government can implement to disrupt the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation online, while being careful to protect liberal values such as freedom of expression. 

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, shadow minister for communications and federal member for Banks David Coleman joins host Liam Garman to discuss the recent misinformation bill that will leave free speech and political discourse in Australia.

• They begin the podcast with a recap of what's in the bill, including how the government will determine what constitutes misinformation or disinformation.
• Coleman and Garman then unpack some unforeseen consequences of the bill, including how it may impact religious freedoms and genuine political discourse.
• The podcast wraps up discussing the government's push to remove under-16s from social media.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Dr Malcolm Davis, Australian Strategic Policy Institute defence strategy and capability senior analyst, to unpack the strategic shockwaves emerging from the United States' 2026 National Defense Strategy.

The trio examine what Washington's shift towards an offshore balancing posture means for Australia, including renewed pressure to lift defence spending, the implications of deterrence by denial along the first island chain, and the risks of assuming unconditional US support in a rapidly deteriorating Indo-Pacific security environment.

They also explore the growing assertiveness of China, the fine line between stabilisation and accommodation, and whether Australia is approaching a modern-day version of World War II's "1939 tipping point moment" that demands greater self-reliance, expanded defence industrial capacity, and difficult conversations with the Australian public.

Finally, the discussion turns to force structure, autonomous systems, guided weapons, and the hard choices facing government as Australia seeks to balance immediate readiness, AUKUS, and long-term strategic resilience in an era of uncertainty.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Liam Garman is joined by senator for Queensland Matthew Canavan to discuss resource and food security, international politics and Australian domestic policy.

• The pair begin the podcast discussing voting trends in Australia and the results of the recent Queensland election.
• They then examine the need for a robust policy platform that supports Australia's resources industry; protecting national sovereignty, delivering jobs and economic growth.
• Senator Canavan and Garman then unpack the economic impact of trade embargoes on Australia's finances, before examining the need for effective biosecurity legislation to protect Australian farmers.
• Finally, the pair discuss the intersection between resources and building a skilled workforce.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, interviewer Defence Connect senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison. Morrison, non-executive vice chairman of American Global Strategies, has recently announced a new role as chairman of Space Centre Australia, a planned spaceport in far north Queensland. He has also recently concluded a lecture at the Yomiuri International Economic Society in Tokyo in September. The pair discuss:

• The Australian government's priorities for space and support of domestic space industry.
• The sudden blooming of interest in space innovation and its increasingly contested environment between international players.
• The AUKUS and QUAD alliances in regard to the Indo-Pacific.
• The upcoming US presidential election on 5 November and forecasts for Australian policy under a Republican or Democratic victory.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, co-host Liam Garman is joined by Steve Kuper, senior analyst and government relations manager at Defence Connect, to unpack deepening social tensions in the United States ahead of the US election.

• The pair begin the podcast discussing whether modern journalism, with a focus on opinion over reporting, has worsened the political divide in the US.
• Kuper and Garman then discuss Russian interference during the 2016 election and give insight into the Senate's findings on how protest movements were exploited to achieve Russia's political objectives.

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Dr David Kilcullen, former diplomat and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency senior research scientist, to discuss the moving evolution of conflict, tactics and military technology.

• The trio begin by discussing elements of complex warfare, how predictions change over time and the differences in warfare over the last 25 years.
• They also discuss the tactics and technologies of past and current conflicts, including those in use in Europe and the Middle East.
• Finally, they discuss the nature of resilience, innovation and technological expertise in current soldiery within defence forces and greater society.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman unpack the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and how state actors disrupt their non-state adversaries.

• The podcast begins with an analysis into the fragility of supply chains, examining the pager attack, and how adversaries can conduct espionage through acquisition.
• They then discuss strategies at disrupting non-state adversaries, including whether a decapitation strategy would work for Hezbollah in spite of its failure to disrupt irregular forces elsewhere.
• The podcast also examines the division that this represents in Australia, with announcements that the Australian Federal Police will go after those waving Hezbollah flags.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman invite Major General (Ret'd) Gus McLachlan back for a follow-up podcast, unpacking irregular warfare, information operations and military modernisation. 

• They begin the podcast discussing Russia's "little green men" during the invasion of 2014, and how Russian units were able to take over swathes of Eastern Ukraine. 
• MAJGEN (Ret'd) McLachlan then unpacks his priorities in uniform in modernising the Australian Defence Force.
• The podcast then examines how two Russian nations were charged with laundering money to spread disinformation ahead of the US presidential election. 

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Joe Hockey, former Australian ambassador to the United States, joins hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper to discuss the continued importance of the Australia–US relationship.

• The trio begin by discussing the fallout of the latest presidential debate between contenders, former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, touching on the implications for the bilateral relationship.
• They also discuss the role of grey zone warfare and information warfare efforts in the upcoming election and how they may shape the outcome.
• Finally, they discuss the importance of the partnership in helping Australia reindustrialise and build a truly sovereign defence industrial base, with a pathway forward to establishing an integrated Australian prime.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for defence and shadow minister for defence industry, joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman to discuss how Australia must develop sovereign capability amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

• The trio begin the podcast discussing how Australia needs to support Defence SMEs to deliver sovereign capability amid rising political uncertainty before looking into additional uses of Australia's special forces capabilities.
• The shadow minister then discusses how decision makers must clearly articulate the grey zone and kinetic risks that Australia faces, and outlines what some of his key objectives would be in government.
• The podcast wraps up discussing Ukraine's continued fight for freedom.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Gus McLachlan, former Commander Forces Command, joins hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Liam Garman to unpack modern asymmetrical warfare: from the Taliban in Afghanistan to Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the Philippine Sea, and even how social media is spurring political divisions.   

• The podcast begins by analysing what grey zone warfare looks like in the modern geopolitical environment, from resource competition to militarisation of civilian capabilities to compel an adversary beneath the threshold of armed conflict. 

• The trio then discuss lessons from the Taliban in Afghanistan, including the utilisation of information to seize control of the narrative. 
• They then examine the need to seize freedom of manoeuvre in the online domain, and the risks of forfeiting social media. 

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In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, inaugural head of the ADF's Information Warfare Division, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the importance of long-range strike as a deterrent and how Australia is uplifting its cyber and information warfare capabilities. 

• MAJGEN (Ret'd) Thompson begins unpacking the benefits of establishing the ADF's Cyber Command, drawing together the cyber capabilities of each of the services and enhancing the integrated force's warfighting effects. 
• They then examine Iran's cyber operations against the Republican Party in the US, and whether Australia and the US should consider expanding ANZUS. 
• The trio then discuss the acquisition of the B21 to provide redundancy as Australia procures nuclear-powered submarines and the need to develop clear doctrine across the electromagnetic spectrum. 

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In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the fallout from the US' arrest of Nicolas Maduro, America's claims to Greenland, and the potential for regime change in Iran.

The trio unpack the success and complexities of the US' raid in Venezuela and the intricacies surrounding the mission, the fallout of the "Donroe Doctrine" in action, and its relations intersecting with the 2025 US National Security Strategy's emphasis on the western hemisphere.

They also discuss the mounting US pressure over Greenland and what is driving US interest in the island nation, which presents a significant risk of rupturing NATO at a time of mounting geopolitical upheaval.

Finally, they also discuss the US military build-up surrounding Iran and the potential for decapitation strikes against the Iranian regime, seemingly backed by the ousted shah and implications for broader global security.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Contested Ground podcast, where hosts Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack how nations vie for influence below the threshold of armed conflict.

• In this episode, the hosts unpack how foreign actors sought to stoke tensions during the recent English riots and how social media echo chambers have caused a deep division in society.
• The hosts then look closer to home and how the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) recently raised Australia's terror threat level, analysing a range of factors that have contributed to this, including how communities responded to the 7 October attacks in Israel.
• They wrap up the podcast debating whether the government and police should monitor speech online, and to what extent.

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The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Steve Kuper discuss the Australian government's legislative efforts to combat anti-Semitism, hatred, and violent extremism in Australia.

The trio unpack the legislative proposal and political considerations that have shaped the Albanese government's Combating Anti-Semitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, developed in the aftermath of the terrorist shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries on 14 December 2025.

The trio also discuss the fine line between balancing national security, freedom, protesting and religious liberties as a democracy and the different requests identified by the opposition, Greens and other minor parties ahead of the debate.

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The Contested Ground Team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, co-host Steve Kuper and returning co-host Liam Garman unpack the fallout of the American special forces raid in Venezuela.

The pair also discuss the broader global ramifications emerging as a result of the American direct action in Latin America, including: 

• The real motivations behind America's raid and why simple claims of regime change or pursuit of oil may not be as clear-cut as some would have us believe.
• Ongoing concerns about security and stability in the Middle East following revelations of significant strategic military deployments from the US to Europe and the region. 
• The sociopolitical challenges facing Australia and allied nations as protests unfold in cities across the world, with political discourse shifting from the Middle East to Venezuela and claims of American imperialism.
• The ramifications of fraying, sectarian political debates and echo chambers that undermine social cohesion and national stability.

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The Contested Ground team

In this solemn episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The trio discuss the terrorist shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries. They also tackle the implications of the targeted anti-Semitic attack on Australia's intelligence and law enforcement community.

The conversation then shifts to the beginning of the broader national conversations that will now be taking place in Canberra and capital cities around the nation, as the nation and Sydney grieve the loss of national innocence.

We would also like to pass on our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the tragic events yesterday.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team