COVID-19

National Security Election Snapshot: Domestic Security

Publisher: 
ANU National Security College
Year: 
2022
Month: 
April
Abstract: 

National security has been prominent in Australia’s 2022 Federal Election campaign. This document is part of a series that intends to provide a snapshot of some priorities and targets from the different political parties in the lead-up to the election.

The risks to Australia’s domestic security has changed in recent years, with espionage and foreign interference outpacing terrorism as a top security threat. Both state and non-state malicious actors seek to interfere with Australian politics, democratic processes, and critical infrastructure. Ideologically motivated extremism has also overtaken religious extremism as Australia’s primary terrorism concern, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, are changing the landscape both of threat and response, including the operation of intelligence agencies. The boundary is blurring between domestic security, defence, international policy and overall national resilience, including in economic/ energy security and the protection of critical infrastructure.

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