Edited by John Coyne and Francesca Ciuffetelli, this compendium brings together leading policymakers, practitioners and analysts to examine Australia's counterterrorism trajectory from the immediate post-9/11 period to a more complex contemporary threat environment. Drawing on articles originally published in The Strategist, the collection explores domestic and international terrorism, radicalisation, antisemitism, lone actor violence, youth extremism, and the growing intersection between terrorism, technology and statecraft.
The publication is released at a time when Australia's national terrorism threat level remains probable, with heightened concern around lone-actor attacks, antisemitic violence, online radicalisation and the erosion of social cohesion. Recent incidents and disrupted plots underscore the persistence and adaptability of the threat, and the need for sustained and coordinated policy attention.
In response to these challenges, Securing Australia critically examines Australia's counterterrorism architecture, including leadership, legislation and inter-agency coordination. It highlights the importance of public trust, community resilience and clear government leadership as essential national security enablers and reflects on recent events that have tested Australia's preparedness, questioning whether existing frameworks remain fit for purpose.
Securing Australia is intended for policymakers, security professionals, researchers and students seeking clear eyed analysis of the challenges shaping Australia's counterterrorism future and the policy choices required to meet them.
