OPINION

Australians are often told that wars in the Middle East are distant events — tragic and dangerous but far removed from daily life on the other side of the world. The escalating confrontation involving Iran is already proving otherwise. What is unfolding in the…

Australia’s involvement in the Middle East conflict is no longer theoretical. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Australian Defence Force (ADF) assets are being deployed to the Gulf region to assist allied nations in protecting themselves from Iranian attacks. Among the…

The possible return of 11 Australian women linked to ISIS and their 23 children from camps in northern Syria has evolved into a major political and social issue. Reports that most may resettle in Victoria, with roughly one-third heading to New South…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s blunt warning that ISIS-linked families would “face the full force of the law” if they returned to Australia reflects a political reality: national security remains a red-line issue for voters. With reports that 11 families of women and…

The revelation that more than 230 potential terrorists are currently living in Australia under deradicalisation programs should have triggered a national reckoning. Instead, it has produced a familiar mix of political reassurance, bureaucratic language, and an unspoken assumption that the public need not worry.…

Victoria is facing an increasingly complex challenge when it comes to public safety. Recent figures released by Victoria Police and the independent Crime Statistics Agency point to a concerning convergence of trends: a decline in the number of full-time police officers, rapid…

One week after the Bondi Beach massacre, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review into Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies. While the move acknowledges public concern, it also highlights a deeper and more uncomfortable truth: Australia’s national security architecture failed,…