Happy new year to all Murphy Raid readers!

This post is to announce a few bits of news.

First, Australia is going to experience major changes to its national security governance during 2018, with the Turnbull government creating the Department of Home Affairs, implementing recommendations from the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review, introducing new foreign interference laws, and in all likelihood passing more counter-terrorism legislation.

I’ll post occasional news round-ups, but a good way to track these developments is to follow the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s inquiries. They are currently reviewing four bills yet to be introduced to Parliament:

• Review of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017
• Review of the Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017
• Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017
• Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Bill 2017

In other news, Levi J. West and I have co-authored an article in Jamestown’s Militant Leadership Monitor on Neil Prakash, who was considered “the most important and the most dangerous” Australian member of Islamic State. We cover Prakash’s journey to the Islamic State, his role as a propagandist, his alleged involvement in terrorist plots, and his downfall. To read the article, you will need to subscribe to the Militant Leadership Monitor.

Meanwhile, I am still working on my book with Debra Smith on the history of terrorism and counter-terrorism in Australia, will resume my PhD in a few months, and am working on some small side-projects.

I will also keep posting here semi-regularly. I hope you find it interesting and useful, and thanks for reading!