Righting the ship, balancing the force, with Senator James Paterson, shadow minister for defence

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by the new shadow minister for defence, Senator James Paterson, to discuss his appointment and ambitions for the nation's defence capabilities.

The pair unpack a host of issues, including the following:

• The key priorities the senator and opposition have identified as focal points for this term of government.
• The local and global fallout of the ongoing Iran conflict and the lessons Australia can learn from the successful asymmetric tactics and strategies employed by Iran.
• The debate about defence spending – is it enough to merely focus on the headline figures: 2.5 versus 3 versus 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
• Getting the balance of capabilities right rather than focusing on single platforms or capabilities in isolation; viewing the Australian Defence Force as an ecosystem of capabilities that need to be balanced rather than overly specialised, exquisite platforms.
• Australia's key vulnerabilities and opportunities in an era of great power competition and multipolar competition.
• Expectations, insights and opportunities – part of the 2026 National Defence Strategy and updated Integrated Investment Program.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team