How is security policy in Australia really made? This is a primer on the institutions, actors and their interaction – sometimes outside formal structures – that shape decision-making in Canberra on key issues related to national security. Policy practitioners will guide students through the intersection of politics, bureaucracy, intelligence and external influences, tying together this foundational knowledge in a policy simulation exercise in which students will formulate, and afterwards critique, a government response to a hypothetical national security problem. 

 

This course takes advantage of the National Security College’s privileged access to the policy community, to share with students contemporary insights that are difficult to obtain from purely academic sources. In line with the NSC signature pedagogy, this course will be co-delivered by an academic and a policy practitioner. It will rely heavily on practitioner perspectives, including guest sessions with serving and former policymakers, parliamentarians and journalists. The academic course convener will ensure academic standards in assessment and maintaining conceptual linkages to more scholarly and research-oriented NSC courses.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the roles of the different institutions and actors in Australian national security policy.
2. Demonstrate a working understanding of the context, processes and challenges for national security policy development and implementation.
3. Begin critically analysing the practice of national security policymaking.
4. Develop and communicate ideas, analysis, and argument related to Australian national security policymaking in a range of forms for professional audiences.

Research-Led Teaching

No

Field Trips

No field trips.

Additional Course Costs

None

Required Resources

No set text

Recommended Resources

Recommend readings include:

Behm A (2015) No Minister: So You Want to be a Chief of Staff? Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. Chapter 11

Althaus C, Bridgman P, and Glyn Davis (2023) The Australian Policy Handbook: A Practical Guide to the Policy-making Process, Allen and Unwin, Sydney. Chapters 1 and 3.

Gyngell A (2021) Fear of Abandonment: Australia in the World since 1942, Latrobe University Press, Melbourne. Chapters 8 and 9.

Turnbull M (2020) A Bigger Picture, Hardie Grant, Melbourne. Chapters 29, 34 and 35.

Rudd K (2018) The PM Years, Pan Macmillan, Sydney. Chapters 5, 12, 34 and 35.

Trood R and Bergin A (August 2015) ‘Creative Tension: Parliament and National Security’, Strategic Insights, ASPI, The Australian Strategic Policy Institute Limited.

At least one recent policy white paper or parliamentary committee report (examples to be provided on Wattle)

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

The Crawford School of Public Policy has its own Academic Skills team dedicated to helping students to understand the academic expectations of studying at Crawford and succeed in their chosen program of study. Through individual appointments, course-embedded workshops and online resources, Crawford Academic Skills provides tailored advice to students keen to develop their academic reading, thinking, planning, writing, and presentation skills.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	This session provides a national security map of Canberra's key institutions.	The session identifies the agencies that form the National Security community. It outlines these agencies' roles and their interrelationships in developing and implementing national security related policy. This session will also have a specific focus on the role of intelligence agencies in policy making.
2	This session explores the impact of political parties on national security policy.	The focus is on the role of political parties in making national security legislation. Senior former policy leaders will be participating in this session.
3	This session explores how departments and agencies are able to inform and shape policy decisions.	Senior former policy leaders will join us in the first half of the session to discuss what government officials do and examine the powers and constraints of bureaucracy.
4	This session explores the role of the Cabinet, and within Ministerial Offices to affect policy change.	The session highlights the role of cabinet, committees, and oversight in making national security legislation. Senior former policy leaders will be participating in this session.
5	This session explores the external factors to the Federal government shaping the development of national security policy.	The focus is on the role of external actors, including the media, corporate, state, think tanks and foreign embassies in making and influencing national security policy.
6	In the final session, we undertake the first component of Assessment 3.	Small team syndicate exercise and back brief to class

Tutorial Registration

none

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Short essay	20 %	28/05/2025	30/05/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Create a new national security government body	50 %	08/06/2025	22/06/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Short essay	30 %	29/06/2025	28/07/2025	1, 2, 3, 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

There is no formal grade for participation, however students are encouraged to participate in all sessions. Group discussions during sessions will provide helpful information on preparing for assessment items.

Assessment 2 includes a 20% mark involving in class (or online) participation. It is designed to prepare students for the main component of the task.

Examination(s)

None

Assessment Task 1

Short essay

Assessment 1 (20%)

This is a short essay to gauge whether students are developing a clear sense of the course content, and to provide students with some feedback on their understanding ahead of their major assessment items. The word limit is 500 words.

The quality and clarity of your argument will be a major factor in your grade. This includes your demonstrated ability to identify and address counterarguments and to make decision about what not to write. It is expected that you draw on relevant course readings on the policy cycle and undertake some research to support your arguments and discussion of the national security agency. While it's important that you deploy evidence to support your arguments and demonstrate your understanding of the subject, this is not a major piece of research (approx. 10 sources). Please write clearly, succinctly and in essay style: i.e. prose and cohesive paragraphs, not dot points. Use of the Crawford referencing style and template is required (available on Wattle for all Crawford student). The word length does not include notes or reference list, but please ensure all substantive points are made in the body of the essay. The ANU College of Asia & the Pacific's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item. 

Task:

Choose a national security agency and describe how its role and functions match (or don't match) to the policy cycle.

Include any arguments that support or detract from the use of the policy cycle heuristic for national security policy making.

Assessment Task 2

Create a new national security government body

Assessment 2 (50%) has two components:

• 20% in class exercise on day three (2025-05-30)
• 30% written document (1000 words) due on 2025-06-08

The final session on day three (Session 6), we will divide into small syndicates and prepare a short back brief to the class. Your lecturer will provide material and direction on the day. It will have considerable overlap with the task below, allowing for preparation.

You have been tasked with creating a new government body to implement a major (hypothetical) national security policy initiative. Select from one of the hypothetical initiatives listed below and prepare a 1000-word document which identifies:

• major stakeholders you think are relevant and explain the influence they may have over the initiative and how they should be engaged

• whether or not administrative and legislative change is needed

• any funding arrangements.

The focus of this exercise is to show your comprehension of legislation, Machinery of Government, Administrative Arrangement Orders and how different stakeholders interact. Where you do mention external sources, please reference according to the Crawford referencing style.

Hypothetical national security policy initiatives include:

1) Create a Civil Defence Force.

To respond to more frequent and harmful natural disasters, Cabinet wants to create a civil defence force for national humanitarian and disaster response. It will be supported by a national service scheme to enlist young Australians in a year’s mandatory training and service to the civil defence force, with reasonable exemptions for some Australians.

2) Establish an Open-Source Intelligence Agency

The rise, and proliferation, of publicly available information is overwhelming the established NIC agencies. Cabinet believes creating an agency dedicated to open source intelligence will be beneficial to the government.

3) Create a Department of Artificial Intelligence

To enhance national security, cybersecurity, and data sovereignty, the Cabinet has decided to create a Department of AI. It is to be involved in defence, industry, public services. It will have a regulation function.

The ANU College of Asia & the Pacific's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item. 

Assessment Task 3

Short essay

Assessment 3 (30%). 

You are asked to write a short essay on one of the following topics below. The word limit is 750 words (within 10% on either side is acceptable). 

This will be a short, argument-based essay, rather than a comprehensive research essay. You will be expected to deploy some evidence to support your arguments and demonstrate your understanding of the subject, but this is not expected to be a major piece of research. The quality and clarity of your argument will be a major factor in your grade. This includes your demonstrated ability to identify and address counter-arguments. Please write clearly, succinctly and in essay style: i.e. prose and paragraphs, not dot points. Use of the Crawford referencing style and template is required. The word length does not include notes or reference list, but please ensure all substantive points are made in the body of the essay. The ANU College of Asia & the Pacific's Word Limit and Penalty Guidelines applies to this assessment item. 

Choose one of the following topics:

• Of all the actors and institutions shaping Australia's national security policies, explain which is the most powerful and which is the least powerful and why?

• To what extent can those outside the public service and government influence Australia's national security policies?

• Australia has a long-standing tradition of bipartisanship on national security policy between the two major parties of government. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of this tradition.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students