National Security Should Come First Over Trade With China

Published on March 23, 2024

Commentary The sacking of the director-generals of Australia’s security agencies as permanent attendees of the country’s National Security Committee (NSC) is an issue of grave concern. Recent news of the decision—which was carried out some time ago—leads to serious questions about the Albanese Labor government’s commitment to Australia’s national security. Instead of the heads of the premier security agencies, the government has appointed the Climate Change Department Secretary David Fredericks as a new regular attendee to the National Security Committee of Cabinet. The NSC is the premier standing committee of the Cabinet. It is authorised to make decisions about Australia’s national defence and security without reference back to the full government Cabinet....