National security is a priority of government. And all citizens are security stakeholders in some way. Yet we don’t really know about how today’s Australians think about their security.

Our Community Consultations will help fill this gap. It is a chance for you to have your say.

Throughout 2025 our consultation teams will visit each state and territory – covering major cities, plus a range of regional centres, rural areas and remote communities. We will convene meetings and seek written submissions.

Our approach is modelled on widely-used government public consultation processes that seek community views on policy priorities and frameworks. It builds on a foundation of nationally-representative survey research, developed in partnership with the Social Research Centre. The project has ethics approval through a rigorous university process, and is overseen by an advisory panel of distinguished Australians.

Findings will be released in early 2026 and will provide a key resource for NSC’s ongoing work of supporting government and parliament through deepening national security literacy and public debate. Your engagement in the consultations will help us prepare the nation for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

What is national security anyway?

In a complex and uncertain world, security risks are many. They can threaten life and freedoms, but also wellbeing, prosperity, sovereignty, social cohesion, institutions and the environment.

Governments recognise national security as a vital responsibility. Yet what security means, and what to do about it, is rarely straightforward. Steps to bolster security can bring benefits and costs to the nation, communities and individuals. Public opinion creates the ‘social licence’ for government decisions. And not everything about security is a matter for government alone.

In our consultations, we want to learn what security means to you. This includes finding out if you think there are other ways to frame what matters for the nation’s future.