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

Joint-capabilities
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By: Robyn Tongol

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.

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

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: SPOTLIGHT: Subs may be the centrepiece – but infrastructure, workforce and sovereign capability will decide the outcome, with Stantec Australia’ Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury and Robert Fogel
Episode 10: CONTESTED GROUND: Apathy, complacency and the ‘Lucky Country’, Australia’s predicament is entirely self-inflicted, with Ben Dullroy
Episode 9: SPECIAL EDITION PODCAST: 125 years of the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: Australian resilience during a crisis and sovereign industrial capability
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: From Tehran to Sydney – why war could reshape Australian property
Episode 6: SPOTLIGHT: Inside Australia’s AUKUS industrial transformation, with Honeywell Aerospace Australia senior director Lee Davis
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: War without borders – the disinformation threat arriving in Australia
Episode 4: THE PROGRESS REPORT: The mission to make military children visible
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Modern electronic warfare, spectrum congestion and the Australian defence ecosystem, with DEWC Services’ Rian Whitby
Episode 2: CONTESTED GROUND: The intersection of finance, organised crime, terrorism and foreign interference, with Keith Bulfin