Rise in activity from rightwing extremists who want to trigger ‘race war’ in Australia, ASIO warns
ASIO says violent right-wing extremists are still being inspired by the Christchurch mosque shooting massacre carried out in 2019, warning of an uptick in activity from hate groups “who want to trigger a so called ‘race war’”. ASIO says about a quarter of its counter-terrorism workload is related to “ideologically motivated violent extremists”, as distinct from religiously motivated extremism and that these extremists “are more likely to focus on recruitment and radicalisation rather than attack planning in the foreseeable future” but it warned of changing trends.
Veteran Narratives of Support for Extremist Groups and Beliefs
Interviews with U.S. veterans explore their endorsement of extremist beliefs, their experiences in the military and in transition to veteran status, and the path to their current political and ideological perspectives. Many reported a negative or traumatic life event while serving.
It’s time for a new national security strategy
Australia's first national security strategy was released over a decade ago, today, the evolving threat landscape alongside technological advancements necessitates an updated strategy to ensure coordination between government agencies and protect vital interests. Recent shifts such as elevating climate and energy to the third pillar of the Australia-US alliance and the proposal for a biennial National Defence Strategy underscore the need for a comprehensive approach.
Australian accounting firm held to ransom by Hunters International
The Hunters International ransomware gang has claimed to have exfiltrated data from a Sydney-based accounting firm, listing T A Khoury & Co on its dark web leak site and claiming to have stolen 63.7 gigabytes worth of data. Hunters International is a relatively young ransomware gang, having first appeared in October last year. In a short time, it has launched a number of high-profile attacks, including on the US subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder and defence contractor Austal.
What will Australia’s approach to net assessment be?
Australia's 2023 Defence Strategic Review emphasizes the need for a shift towards a net assessment approach in defence planning, focusing on force structure, posture, and preparedness in light of evolving strategic circumstances. Net assessment offers a holistic analysis of power dynamics, identifying opportunities and threats across military, economic, diplomatic, and soft power domains, though its implementation requires significant resources and expertise. While tailored to Australia's middle-power status, establishing a net assessment capability entails defining terms of reference, building analytical models, and ensuring independence to provide impartial advice to the government.
AUKUS: Grouping Considers Doubling in Size Along Pillar II
The US, UK, and Australia are considering adding New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, and Japan to AUKUS Pillar II, focusing on emerging technologies and defence collaboration. While Pillar I primarily deals with submarine provision, Pillar II aims to enhance technological capacities, intelligence sharing, and cyber defence capabilities among members. Expansion of AUKUS could signify a Western effort to counter China, with potential risks of Chinese influence and trade restrictions for new and existing members.