We are very excited to bring you a special interview this episode with Rebecca Skinner, Associate Secretary of Australia’s Department of Defence, and therefore one of the most senior women working on Australia’s national security. It is a wide-ranging conversation that covers topics including the nature of the Associate Secretary role, civil-military relationships inside the department, the never-ending question of reform, gender issues, and contrasts between private and public sector organisations. Allan and Darren also pose big picture questions on the disrupted strategic environment and how to better integrate Australia’s national security community. On the lighter side, the $400 ash tray from the TV show “The West Wing” and (perhaps) its Australian equivalent – a flute – also come up.
As always, we invite our listeners to email us at this address: australia.world.pod@gmail.com We welcome feedback, requests and suggestions. You can also contact Darren on twitter @limdarrenj
Our thanks go to AIIA intern Charlie Henshall for his help with audio editing, Rory Stenning for composing our theme music, and Martyn Pearce for technical assistance in setting up this episode.
Relevant links
Rebecca Skinner’s biography: http://defence.gov.au/leaders/MsRebeccaSkinner.asp
The West Wing: “Four hundred dollar ashtray”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R9kH_HOUXM
Ep. 129: Unsafe and provocative actions by the Chinese military
Ep. 128: Sols vote; nests of spies? growing AUKUS? Palestinian statehood?
Ep. 127: A China-led international order?
Ep. 126: The international economic order—Past, present, and future
Ep. 125: Wang Yi visits Australia
Ep. 124: Ukraine, Gaza, and international order
Ep. 123: ASEAN in Melbourne
Ep. 122: Indonesia, before and after the election
Ep. 120: Where to from ”stabilisation” in Australia-China relations?
Ep. 121: Reviewing 2023; speculating about 2024
Ep. 119: When domestic policy is foreign policy (and the PM’s travels)
Ep. 118: A US perspective on Australia’s defence policy
Ep. 117: Canada-India (emergency episode)
Ep. 116: Australia’s international development policy
Ep. 115: The domestic politics of AUKUS and Pacific security pacts
Ep. 114: And we’re back. Australia-China; US-China
Allan Gyngell and Australia in the world
Ep. 112: Cold War 2?
Ep. 111: AUKUS plans; India; red alerts
Ep. 110: Ukraine, one year on
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