In this episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick and Ben Felton talk with Lena Parker, General Manager Energy Solutions at Ventia, about energy security and its importance for national security.

We start off the discussion by getting an overview of why energy and national security are intertwined, with a focus on moving away from coal to renewables, the responsibilities that Defence has in ensuring the supply of power to its assets and Australia’s citizens, and the challenges it faces being the largest landowner in the nation. We explore the options available, assess the current security situation, the increase in Australia’s energy usage, and the complexities in decision making related to rolling out solutions due to the number of stakeholders involved. Lena also walks us through the work Ventia is doing, primarily building generation and storage assets, decreasing consumption of electricity, and how Ventia is working with Defence to innovate scalable solutions.

The discussion also gives insights into Ventia's projects including their extensive battery services, largely for Telstra exchanges, and the difficulties involved in government policy, resourcing, and funding. We wrap up by reviewing the viability of nuclear energy especially in relation to the time it will take to launch operational facilities.

LINKS:

Ventia: www.ventia.com

Energy security is national security: www.ventia.com/insights/explainer/energy-security-is-national-security

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via defmag@yaffa.com.au to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Editor: Chris Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2024

In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick and Ben Felton review and discuss some of the recent news of interest from Australia, the USA and the Asia / Pacific region.

We start by discussing the announcement that Kongsberg has received $850m from the Australian Government to build a new factory at Newcastle Airport for production of missiles and to qualify Australian companies for its supply chain. Following this, we consider the recently announced update to the AUKUS Pillar One agreement which imposes stricter conditions on our handling of nuclear materials while also stating that the US & UK militaries have priority over Australian requirements.

Keeping with the US, we also discuss the new ITAR Exemptions for Australia and the UK, Australia's five Excluded Technology List items. We also discuss the recent items about Ghost Shark and Ghost Bat developments.

We wrap up the episode with a look at Regional news items, including Australia and Indonesia agreeing to an in-principle Defence Cooperation upgrade, the 6th Joint Heads of Pacific Security Meeting, withdrawal of ADF personnel from the Solomon Islands, and Indo Pacific Endeavour 2024 kicking off last week.

LINKS:

Kongsberg to build Naval and Joint Strike Missiles in Australia: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/kongsberg-to-build-naval-and-joint-strike-missiles-in-australia

New AUKUS agreement signed: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/new-aukus-agreement-signed

Australian ITAR exemption to begin on 1 September: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/australian-itar-exemption-to-begin-on-1-september

Ghost Shark makes US debut: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/ghost-shark-makes-us-debut

First Air Force pilot trained on MQ-28A Ghost Bat: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/first-air-force-pilot-trained-on-mq-28a-ghost-bat

Joint ministerial statement on Australia-Indonesia Defence cooperation: www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2024-08-20/joint-ministerial-statement-australia-indonesia-defence-cooperation

Pacific security chiefs meet to advance operational cooperation: www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2024-08-16/pacific-security-chiefs-meet-advance-operational-cooperation

Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 to deepen regional partnerships: www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2024-08-12/indo-pacific-endeavour-2024-deepen-regional-partnerships

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (

In this episode, we’re changing the format a little as Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick and Ben Felton review and discuss some of the recent news of interest from Australia, the USA and the Asia / Pacific region.

We start the discussion with the big news that the Prime Minister has reshuffled his ministers with Pat Conroy being promoted to Cabinet, Matt Thistlethwaite leaving the Defence portfolio, and Luke Gosling becoming a Special Envoy. We then discuss Ghost Shark receiving extra funding, the first Triton being officially handed over to the RAAF, and Northrop Grumman's AMP-3 contract.

Looking next at the USA and their big OPEROSE 2024 exercise that tested moving Long Range Strike supplies from Victoria to the North of the country, the implications of the first Virginia class submarine being forward deployed to Guam, and the US Army's Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) achieves Milestone B in its development programme.

We wrap up the episode by looking at the Asia / Pacific region where the Phillipines have attended their first Exercise Pitch Black, bringing four FA-50 aircraft, the RNZAF's third new C-130J has flown in the USA, and Papua New Guinea bringing two PAC-750XL aircraft to Pitch Black 2024.

LINKS:

Defence portfolio reshuffled: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/defence-portfolio-reshuffled

Ghost Shark production approved: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/ghost-shark-production-approved

RAAF welcomes first Triton: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/raaf-welcomes-first-triton

Northrop Grumman awarded $14 million contract to maintain Australian access to US missile warning network: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/northrop-grumman-awarded-14-million-contract-to-maintain-australian-access-to-us-missile-warning-network

Integrated long-range logistics: www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-08-05/integrated-long-range-logistics

Guam slated to homeport its first Virginia-class fast-attack submarine: www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-08-02/navy-guam-submarine-uss-minnesota-14716907.html

FLRAA achieves Milestone B, enters next phase of development: www.army.mil/article/278591/flraa_achieves_milestone_b

Exercise Pitch Black 2024 set to break records: www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/exercise-pitch-black-2024-set-to-break-records

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Triton image supplied by & © Department of Defence.

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not...