Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald Is Australia as vulnerable as we think we are?
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Mar 24, 2026 
Rory Medcalf, director of the ANU National Security College and national security analyst, discusses how Australians perceive threats today. He covers energy and fuel security, cyber and AI risks, infrastructure and social cohesion. He also examines public attitudes to alliances, national preparedness and the communication gap between officials and the wider community.
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Public Feels Vulnerable About Daily Infrastructure
- Australians feel genuinely vulnerable about continuity of daily life, prioritising energy, water, transport and cyber over distant military threats.
- Rory Medcalf's nationwide research found high public sophistication about cascading risks to critical infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas.
Public More Ready Than Politicians Expect
- The public is more ready for a frank national conversation on preparedness than a risk-averse political culture expects.
- Medcalf argues governments' limited disclosure widens a gap between what officials know and what citizens think, undermining crisis cohesion.
Reframe Security As Safety And Resilience
- Do reframe national security as safety, resilience and cohesion to widen public engagement.
- Medcalf recommends using accessible language and inviting diverse communities rather than jargon-heavy official terms.