Momentum Leaders

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100

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Oct 2026

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Bringing you closer to the people shaping Australia.

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October 22, 202637 min

AUKUS, China and Australia's defence industrial future, with former prime minister Scott Morrison

Australia's strategic environment is changing rapidly, but defence procurement and industry must move faster to keep pace. Speaking with Defence Connect news editor Robert Dougherty, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison discusses the five-year evolution of AUKUS, Australia's defence industrial base, China's economic and strategic influence, critical minerals and the need to accelerate defence procurement. Morrison argues that AUKUS is already delivering tangible benefits, with US submarines operating from Australia and investment progressing at Henderson to support US, UK and Australian submarine operations. The pair also discuss US submarine production constraints and Australia's plans to develop a tier-one domestic defence prime. Morrison highlights that Australia should maintain trade with China where appropriate while strengthening economic and strategic resilience through closer cooperation with aligned countries. The conversation turns to critical minerals, with Morrison arguing China's use of supply-chain leverage is accelerating investment in alternative sources. Australia, he says, has an important role as an extractor, while processing capabilities can be distributed across allied countries, including the US, Japan and South Korea. Looking towards the next decade, Morrison calls for faster defence decision making and procurement because systems designed for the post-Cold War environment are no longer suited to today's strategic conditions. Enjoy the podcast.

October 13, 202624 min

The information advantage – how AI is reshaping influence, competition and power

Information has always shaped power and influence – but in the age of artificial intelligence, the speed, scale and sophistication with which narratives can be created and deployed has changed dramatically. In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson explore how the tradecraft of information warfare is increasingly intersecting with the commercial world, and why influence, narrative and information advantages are becoming critical strategic capabilities for modern businesses. They unpack the parallels – and important differences – between military information operations and commercial competition, from shaping perceptions and gaining decision superiority to defending against misinformation and responding to crises at speed. With AI now enabling highly targeted content to be created in hours rather than weeks, Tarrant and Thompson examine what this means for business leaders, why communications can no longer be left solely to marketing teams, and why organisations need the people, systems and strategy to compete in an information environment moving faster than ever before.

October 12, 202645 min

Falling home values could blow a hole in aged care. Has anyone done the maths?

On this episode of Momentum Media's Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman examine how a raft of recent policy announcements, from tax changes to credit card surcharges, are buffeting the economy and creating unintended consequences that will impact every Australian. The pair pull apart the latest CPI figures to question the federal government's explanation for inflation, with Garman arguing that government spending is crowding out the private sector and weighing on productivity. Tarrant then turns to the removal of residential lending from SMSFs, which he says is putting pressure on builders and the viability of new projects. He also argues that falling home values could undermine the aged care system, with fewer older Australians able to draw on their homes to fund entry costs, leaving families facing a difficult situation at a vulnerable time and potentially adding a significant cost to the budget. The pair also discuss the launch of Banking Daily, Momentum Media's new financial services platform, and how it aims to deliver the latest intelligence for people working in the sector.

August 19, 202610 min

UK–Australia defence cooperation, GCAP and CEA advanced radar, with UK Minister Luke Pollard

How can the UK and Australia deepen defence industry cooperation while balancing high-end capabilities with Ukrainian-style affordable mass? In this episode of Momentum Media's Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard during his current visit to Australia. Minister Pollard is undertaking a broader tour of the country's defence industry and headlining the Australian British Chamber of Commerce's Defence Industry Lunch in Perth on 17 August. The podcast conversation includes the following topics: The UK's approach to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Canada's new observer status and the potential for further international partners to join the program. The UK's focus on building defence capabilities with allies through shared workshares, technology and industrial cooperation. Defence technology co-development with Ukraine, including two-way intellectual property sharing and the scaling of Ukrainian and British capabilities. The role of innovation and rapidly changing electronic warfare requirements in shaping how Western militaries support Ukraine. The UK's approach to a "high-low-mid mix" of defence advanced platforms, mid-range systems and affordable mass. Opportunities for Australian defence companies to enter the UK market, including the potential integration of CEA Technologies' active electronically scanned array radar into UK capabilities. Finally, the discussion wraps up by examining how closer UK–Australia defence industry partnerships can strengthen sovereign capability while creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term employment opportunities in both countries. Enjoy the podcast.

August 19, 202641 min

Weak, vulnerable, backwater – Australia's choice between strategic camps and managed decline

Dr Ross Babbage warns that without urgent economic reform and industrial recalibration, Australia risks becoming a client state of Beijing. Returning to Momentum Media's Defence Connect Podcast, strategic analyst Dr Ross Babbage delivers an unsparing diagnosis: Australia is drifting towards a future of strategic weakness, economic vulnerability and de facto dependence on Beijing – unless the nation urgently reverses course on industrial policy, governance efficiency and the information asymmetry crippling public debate. In a wide-ranging conversation with host Steve Kuper, Babbage articulates an emerging geopolitical fracture: the world is crystallising into distinct economic camps. The first, led by the United States and including Western democracies, is erecting selective tariffs and deepened trade ties. Camp two is China and its authoritarian satellites. A third comprises developing nations watching carefully before committing. Australia's position, Babbage argues, remains fatefully ambiguous. While virtually every Western ally has taken protective measures against Chinese manufacturing dumping and industrial subsidy – a regime he quantifies at eight to 18 times the support other nations provide – Australia has remained conspicuously reticent. China's leverage remains decisive: our iron ore and coal exports are non-negotiable parts of Beijing's strategic calculus. The deeper problem, he stresses, runs through economic governance itself. Australia has deindustrialised deliberately over three decades, shed critical capabilities in steel and advanced manufacturing, surrendered energy cost advantage and starved investment in domestic capability. Without deliberate recalibration – smaller government, redirection of trade partnerships, strategic investment incentives – Australia defaults towards clientelism. Equally critical is the communication void. Defence industry leaders, board chairs of major firms and even policymakers routinely tell Babbage they were unaware of the scale of Chinese subversion, intellectual property theft and coordinated disintegration operations aimed at fracturing Western cohesion. The path forward, he argues, demands frank public briefings, ruthless priority setting and abandonment of exhausted economic orthodoxies. Without it, Australia becomes the strategic backwater Beijing expects. Enjoy the podcast.

August 18, 202624 min

Old HR v new HR

Traditional designs for a business's HR function often lose sight of the problems they are trying to solve and fail to tie programs to commercial outcomes. Here, we explore the need to move towards more modern, holistic thinking about the role of HR and how best to succeed in FY2026–27 and beyond. In this episode of The HR Leader Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with We Are Charlotte founder and chief executive Jessica Trumble about what she likes about outsourced HR work as opposed to being in-house, unpacking the differences between older HR approaches and newer ones, the imperative of having a commercial mindset, taking advantage of environmental opportunities in the post-pandemic market, rethinking the function of HR, what constitutes being commercially minded, and getting business buy-in for a new approach.

July 20, 202658 min

Investor FOMO, tighter lending, and the SMSF scramble

Fear of missing out is back in Australia's property market. As thousands of investors rush to beat the SMSF deadline, the biggest risk isn't missing out – it's buying the wrong property in the process. On Momentum Media's weekly property and real estate livestream, Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant was joined by Alex Whitlock to discuss the growing frenzy surrounding self-managed super funds (SMSF) and why investor urgency is creating new risks. The pair questioned whether the race to secure finance before the borrowing ban is pushing investors into poor-quality assets, warning against letting marketing hype or tight deadlines dictate long-term investment decisions. Attention then turned to the mortgage market, with borrowing capacities shrinking and investor activity slowing, raising fresh questions about what the next phase of lending could look like for brokers and borrowers alike. Finally, Tarrant and Whitlock explained why investors should look beyond buyer's agents alone, arguing that local property managers can often provide some of the strongest insights into rental demand, cash flow, and the long-term fundamentals of a market.

July 16, 202626 min

The hidden danger of stress

When we think of safety concerns in aviation, it's easy to become fixated on the mechanical issues – but the human factor is also a major issue, and stress and burnout in such a high-pressure industry can only make it worse. It's easy to ignore the early warning signs of stress and try to push through, but according to neuroscientist Annett Koenig, that can only compound the issue, leading to neurological issues that can even mirror the symptoms of epilepsy. As engineering-related incidents continue to improve, the human factor is still lagging behind – so what kind of safety issues can stress cause, and how can they be addressed? On Momentum Media's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake talks to Koenig about the causes, effects, and solutions to chronic stress in the aviation sector.

July 14, 202636 min

Budget backlash – has Australia lost its political middle ground?

As Australia faces a populist political surge and the established political parties continue to lose ground, can Australia's "sensible" centre hold, or will decades of failed policies, broken promises and declining economic opportunities finally come home to roost? In a departure from its usual international focus, Momentum Media's Contested Ground turns to domestic tensions sparked by the federal budget. The hosts argue that this has become a sustained point of public frustration rather than a short-term political issue. Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson question whether Australia is moving away from its traditional "sensible centre" towards greater political polarisation. A central theme of the discussion is the declining level of trust between Australians and the political class. Dr Thompson argues that governments increasingly risk creating division through policies and political strategies that focus on wedge issues rather than building consensus. The conversation references debates, including the Voice referendum and responses to international crises, as examples of issues that have contributed to heightened social tension. The discussion also turns to housing, taxation and the economic pressures facing younger Australians. Tarrant raises concerns that government policy settings, including changes affecting self-managed super funds and capital gains tax arrangements, may have unintentionally reduced investment capacity and worsened housing supply pressures. The hosts question whether Australia is continuing to promote an outdated version of the "Australian Dream" while younger generations face record debt levels, higher living costs and greater financial uncertainty. Ultimately, the episode explores a bigger question: is Australia experiencing a fundamental shift in its national identity and political culture? The hosts suggest the country may be moving away from the traditional "sensible centre" that has defined much of modern Australian politics towards a more divided environment, where competing extremes increasingly dominate public debate. They warn that maintaining social cohesion will become harder if political leadership continues to prioritise short-term political advantage over long-term national unity. The episode concludes with a call for a renewed style of leadership – one focused less on political point-scoring and more on honesty, transparency and bringing Australians together to confront the economic and strategic challenges ahead. Enjoy the podcast.

July 10, 202626 min

Inspiring Australia's next generation of space professionals, with Jen Malone

How can Australia inspire more young people to pursue careers in space, STEM and national capability from an early age? In this episode of Momentum Media's Space Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Jen Malone, founder of the Young Astronauts Club Australia, during the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition 2026 in Sydney. Malone discusses the origins of the Young Astronauts Club, how the grassroots initiative has grown into a national science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach program, and why engaging children early is critical to addressing Australia's future space workforce needs. The discussion explores education, industry collaboration and the growing opportunities across Australia's civil and defence space sectors while examining how initiatives such as Australia's astronaut program are inspiring the next generation. The podcast conversation includes the following topics: Why Australia must inspire children to pursue STEM and space careers from an early age. Building the Young Astronauts Club and expanding opportunities for students nationwide. The importance of reaching regional and rural communities through accessible STEM education. Australia's evolving space industry, workforce shortages and emerging career pathways. The growing links between Australia's civil, commercial and defence space sectors. The inspirational impact of Australia's astronaut program and the #FlyKatherine campaign. Industry collaboration, private investment and Australia's role in the global space ecosystem. The influence of AI, emerging technologies and future lunar exploration in today's students. Plans to launch a national online Young Astronauts Club, making space education accessible regardless of postcode. Finally, the discussion wraps up by examining the importance of family engagement, community support and creating lasting pathways that encourage young Australians to become the scientists, engineers and space professionals of the future. Enjoy the podcast, The Space Connect team