CONTESTED GROUND: The fragility of Australia’s energy ecosystem, with AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia’s energy system.

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia’s energy system.

The trio begin by discussing the Australian government’s rhetoric around the nation’s liquid fuel supplies, its access to the global energy markets and the immediate ramifications of the ongoing throttling of oil flows out of the Middle East.

As part of this, they unpack the state of Australia’s liquid fuel stockpiles, the challenges governments face in moving to “calm” the Australian public and prevent a run on the nation’s limited crude oil reserves.

They also discuss the decline in the nation’s refining capacity, our dependence on foreign refined fuel imports from south-east Asia and the implications for national security and resilience.

Finally, they unpack the policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities that face Australia’s policymakers and the immediate steps we can take to build national resilience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Weak, vulnerable, backwater – Australia’s choice between strategic camps and managed decline
Episode 10: PODCAST: Undersea dominance – Australia charts the maritime future through autonomous systems and AUKUS innovation
Episode 9: PODCAST: Australian Army Cadets pathways, submarine industry growth and Australia’s fuel security
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: The blind faith factor – why Australians trust an ADF they don’t understand
Episode 7: PODCAST: Defence preparedness, artificial intelligence productivity, and Australian industrial resilience
Episode 6: CONTESTED GROUND: Shots fired! Chinese missile test shatters Australia’s ‘fog of peace’, with Mike Pezzullo
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Counter-drone innovation, directed energy and delivering operational outcomes, with EOS Defence Systems’ Lee Kormany
Episode 4: PODCAST: Strengthening security ties, Fiji defence pact and Australia’s counter-drone push
Episode 3: CONTESTED GROUND: Lessons from the UK in political polarisation, generational dislocation and intergenerational warfare, with Ben Dullroy, Bravo Delta Advisory
Episode 2: PODCAST: Defence Industry Development Strategy, Defence reform and Australians fighting in Ukraine