CONTESTED GROUND: From PNG to Gaza – what's defining Australia's security future

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. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team