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
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Ep. 108: PM in PNG; duelling ambassadors; reviewing 2022
Ep. 107: Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts
Ep. 106: FM’s DC speech; 2+2s ; a polycrisis?
Ep. 105: G20/Xi bilaterals; FM/DM speeches; midterms
Ep. 104: 20th Party Congress; export controls; Australia-Japan
Ep. 103: Nuclear escalation; UNGA meetings; Track 1.5s
Ep. 102: A formal statement on China? Australia’s head of state
Ep. 101: Taiwan
Ep. 100: Foreign Minister Penny Wong
Ep. 99: Much travel & many speeches; PRC meeting; PIF; Lowy poll
Ep. 98: A (very) busy first few weeks
Ep. 97: Incoming government brief, 2022 edition
Ep. 96: Campaign foreign policy lessons; AUKUS leaks?
Ep. 95: Solomon Islands and China enter a security pact
Ep. 94: Pre-election foreign policy speeches by Morrison and Albanese
Ep. 93: The invasion of Ukraine and updating priors
Ep. 92: Our own foreign policy election “debate”
Ep. 91: Ukraine
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