Key points:

• National security has too often been run as a ‘top-down’ policy, with a tendency towards a ‘Canberra knows best’ approach.
• The states and territories contribute many of the powers and capabilities needed to support our overall effort in dealing with a wide range of national security issues.
• Harnessing all jurisdictions for national security purposes will be essential to address our national security challenges and their role here will only grow.

Policy recommendations:

• COAG should commission a fundamental study to examine how the states and territories operate in the area of national security.
• The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, with First Ministers’ departments, should convene a regular summit on national security issues for senior officials and key senior ministerial advisors.
• The new Home Affairs portfolio should establish better practical coordination and information sharing across jurisdictions as an ongoing priority.