Issues Paper: thinking about our national security

National security is a priority of government. And all citizens are security stakeholders in some way. Yet it’s not really clear how today’s Australians think about their security. 

NSC is helping to fill that gap, by undertaking nationwide consultations on Australian attitudes to, and perceptions of, national security. This first-of-its kind study will inform a published report in early 2026, intended as a resource for governments, parliaments, and communities. It will also serve as a foundational resource for NSC’s work program.

This consultation process takes place at a time when community engagement on national security has never been more essential. Australia faces a complex and rapidly evolving security environment, with more disruption, uncertainty and risk than most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. 

These shared challenges require shared solutions – governments, industry, and society need to work together. And to do that, we need an inclusive, honest conversation about who we are as a nation, what interests and values we want to protect, and what we need to do to prepare for an uncertain future.

That conversation needs to go beyond Canberra, and beyond national security experts.

National security affects all Australians. 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 but also costs to the nation, communities and individuals. Various decisions and behaviours – what we and our representatives do and say – can strengthen security or weaken it. Public opinion creates the ‘social licence’ for the choices and trade-offs that governments must ultimately make. And not everything about security is a matter for government alone. An enormous part of Australia’s overall capability – including workforce, knowledge and infrastructure – is located outside government. 

Understanding the diverse perspectives of Australians can help governments and other institutions make better informed choices, and engage the public better along the way. Identifying areas of similarity and difference in Australians’ anxieties and aspirations can help governments understand how to build, and sustain, support for the hard decisions they need to take. Identifying how people and communities think about their own roles or responsibilities will help ensure our nation is prepared for shocks, and that it can withstand them when they occur.

Community Consultations initiative

The purpose of the Community Consultations initiative is to enable Australians to share their views on national security and help decision makers make better informed policy choices. Beyond government, it will help a wide range of institutions – including parliament and industry – as they work to support a secure future for our nation. 

The key goals of the initiative are outlined below.

• Broaden public engagement with, and knowledge of, national security issues. The consultations offer a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas, information and community input into national security thinking. 
• Provide an independent assessment of Australian attitudes towards, and perceptions of, national security, including:
  1.   security challenges and opportunities for Australia now, and in the future 
  2.  the values and interests that shape Australians’ ideas about security 
  3.  the causes of vulnerability – or resilience – to national security threats 
  4.  the priorities for governments, now and in the future; and 
  5.  the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, industry and society.
• Identify how these attitudes are formed. We will, for example, investigate whether there are place-based or other factors that affect the way people think about their own security and that of the nation. 
• Support national security policymaking through sharing research findings with decision makers. This may include identifying specific policy challenges, recommendations or ideas.
• Identify research needs and gaps, including specific policy areas where more focused research is needed in the future. 

Our approach builds on a foundation of nationally-representative survey research, conducted through the highly reputable Social Research Centre at The Australian National University. The project has ethics approval through a rigorous university process. It is delivered by a team of NSC staff, and overseen by a panel of distinguished Australians. The consultations are the College’s own initiative; the project is independent of government, developed and delivered under the academic freedom of our Charter.

Our consultations will inform a report in early 2026, intended as a resource for governments, parliaments, and communities. It will also serve as a foundational resource for NSC’s work program, including a conference in 2026 to support national debate.