Australia is facing a more unstable and hazardous global environment than it has in over 40 years, with the possibility of major-power conflicts now becoming more plausible, according to an evaluation of the nation’s intelligence agencies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ordered this analysis of Australia’s national intelligence community, comprising ten agencies, back in September 2023. The review, completed in mid-2024, was only made public by the government on a Friday morning, revealing a worldwide scenario characterized by the rivalry between China and the United States as a key issue, further complicated by an alliance of autocracies that is undermining global security. It asserts that the post-Cold War order has crumbled and predicts that Australia will navigate a future of competition among nation-states and worldwide division. As the report highlights, while a large-scale regional conflict remains improbable, it is no longer inconceivable, with coercion and disinformation being regular tactics in the Indo-Pacific area. The authors of the review emphasize three critical factors for Australia’s intelligence agencies: the shifts in global power dynamics, the amplification of old threats and creation of new ones through technology, and the range of transnational issues such as climate change, pandemics, and migration. The document underlines China and Russia’s growing collaboration to challenge the U.S. dominance and the potential rise of nationalist governments impacting Australia’s alliances. Among the 67 recommendations, the review suggests establishing an economic security function to safeguard against financial threats, stressing that economic and national security are closely linked.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/21/australia-independent-national-intelligence-review-2024