Dr Troy Whitford is a Senior Lecturer in Intelligence and Security Studies. He is the Course Coordinator for the Masters of Intelligence Analysis. Previously, he has conducted intelligence-led investigations in the corporate, political and legal sectors. Dr Whitford’s research interests include assessments of NGO and non-state actor intelligence capabilities. He also publishes on intelligence training and capacity building. Dr Whitford has delivered tailored intelligence courses for Australian law enforcement and at the National Indian Police Academy in Hyderabad, India. Phone: +61 2 69332395
During the 1980s and 1990s a radical Australian nationalist group known as National Action emerge... more During the 1980s and 1990s a radical Australian nationalist group known as National Action emerged to challenge government policies and social initiatives aimed at promoting multiculturalism. Claiming to defend human rights, both National Action and supporters of multiculturalism clashed on their definitions of what these “rights” should be in Australia. National Action claimed to be defending the individual rights of Australian citizens, as well as their collective rights in the form of the common good of the nation, while supporters of multiculturalism sought to achieve rights protections for minorities1 in Australia and rejected the implied primacy of majoritarian interests advocated by nationalist groups. Proponents of multiculturalism sought to redefine Australian identity as a nation of diversity, in which there is no dominant culture, eliciting a strong reaction from Australian nationalists who in turn insisted that Australia is a country of European cultural heritage, from which it derives its values and beliefs.
Abstract This study of grazing on the Murrumbidgee River's flood plain had its origins in a ... more Abstract This study of grazing on the Murrumbidgee River's flood plain had its origins in a larger project which aimed to investigate the environmental impacts of cattle on riparian land. It was envisaged that the present study would provide the necessary historical ...
Projecting an a ractive political persona is as important in rural and regional politics as any o... more Projecting an a ractive political persona is as important in rural and regional politics as any other political arena. In the final decade of the 20th century and into the 21st century a new style of political persona emerged in rural and regional Australia which captured the a ention of ...
During the mid to late 1980s the radical nationalist group National Action was targeted by domest... more During the mid to late 1980s the radical nationalist group National Action was targeted by domestic intelligence agencies. Known as "Operation Odessa" it was part of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's (ASIO) program to combat what it saw as a rise in politically motivated violence. ASIO and state police Special Branch officers placed the group under surveillance and sent agents to disrupt meetings and recruit informants. Concurrently, National Action had developed its own counterintelligence program structuring the group in an effort to preserve secrecy, educating its membership in situational awareness and designating a senior member as an intelligence officer. Ultimately National Action counterintelligence program was unable to match the highly resourced government agencies and internal discipline issues meant the group was eventually disbanded. However, National Action's effort to develop a counterintelligence program provides some examples of what ...
This paper discusses some of the challenges in teaching intelligence gathering and analysis to no... more This paper discusses some of the challenges in teaching intelligence gathering and analysis to non-government organisations (NGOs). It used Gibb's reflective model to assess the teaching impact because the model allowed the workshop convenors a structure to form their thoughts and observations. The teaching reflections in this paper are based on an intelligence gathering workshop conducted in Sri Lanka to NGOs working in the South Asian region. The paper reports on several pedagogical and cultural challenges that were encountered in delivering the workshop. In chief, the participants were culturally South East Asian, and before this workshop they had no exposure to intelligence gathering techniques. However, once presented, the members of the workshop could see reason for using intelligence gathering techniques for their own planning and security measures. A notable pedagogical issue was the workshop participants' reluctance to use or trust police/intelligence and military terms and concepts. Subsequently, the workshop facilitators, who were not South East Asian, attempted to adopt a different lexicon more suited to social science, rather than a military or intelligence vocabulary. Using a social science lexicon also allowed for scaffolding existing knowledge possessed by participants to an intelligence analysis framework. Underlining this workshop experience is an assessment of the efficacy of teaching intelligence gathering and analysis skills to NGOs.
Journal of the Royal Australian historical society, 2009
Author: T. Whitford and D. Boadle Title: Remaking the Country: Australia's Rural Reconstructi... more Author: T. Whitford and D. Boadle Title: Remaking the Country: Australia's Rural Reconstruction Commission: 1943-46 Journal: Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society ISSN: 0035-8762 Year: 2009 Volume: 95 Issue: 1 Pages: 52-76 Abstract: Australia‘s Rural Reconstruction Commission remains the most ambitious inquiry ever conducted into rural production and resource management, agricultural commodity marketing, and country lifestyle. Yet most commentary on the commission is cursory, unsupported by close textual analysis of the 330 recommendations in its ten published reports, and preoccupied with assessing whether commissioners satisfied ministerial expectations by ticking off recommendations which were actually implemented by federal and state governments. For the most trenchant of these commentators the commission‘s ̳failure‘ is to be found in its preoccupation with ̳rigorous longterm planning‘ and ̳expert direction‘ of the rural sector which, it is claimed, no governmen...
What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How ... more What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How can governments prevent terrorist attacks from happening? Henry Prunckun and Troy Whitford address these questions in their systematic, comprehensive exploration of terrorism and counterterrorism. Notably, this authoritative text: • Explains complex issues in an objective, accessible way • Traces the phenomenon of terrorism through history • Examines law enforcement, as well as intelligence and military operations • Features case studies from around the world
By using social media and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, issue... more By using social media and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, issue motivated groups (IMGs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) can develop cyber defense mechanisms and security measures. In contrast to military and governments, non-state actors should not require secrecy to protect its interests—rather secrecy is counter to the aims and objectives of those organisations or groups. Subsequently, the greater the transparency of action, the better for organizations and groups working against hostile governments. This chapter examines the possibilities of using social media and CPTED principles to enable issue motivated groups and non-government organizations to develop cyber defenses against hostile governments or agent provocateurs. It illustrates some possibilities and options available including using social media platforms and mixed technological networks. A central element to developing cyber defense is ensuring the online spaces are designed and...
Rescue NGOs are organisations that conduct tactical operations targeting bars or brothels and oth... more Rescue NGOs are organisations that conduct tactical operations targeting bars or brothels and other establishments, with the intent of releasing people from situations of sexual exploitation. Their role in counter trafficking comes under significant criticism - predominantly for acting unilaterally and without regard for the impact their ‘raids’ have on trafficked victims and sex workers. This article will suggest that rescue NGOs are better placed to develop intelligence collection and analysis capabilities. It challenges recuse NGOs to rethink the paramilitary approach and train its rescue volunteers in intelligence collection and analysis. It encourages greater collaborations, training and awareness.
From the 1880s private investigators begin to appear on the Australian legal landscape. Commonly ... more From the 1880s private investigators begin to appear on the Australian legal landscape. Commonly known as private detectives the name itself proves contentious. Private investigations in Australia is a profession built on divorce laws which focused on finding fault. In such a social climate private investigations become an unwelcomed necessity. Without regulation or licencing private investigators tend to adopt dubious practices such as blackmail, trespass and perjury. Calls to regulate the industry came early from the judiciary which had come accustomed to private investigators giving evidence. It took legislators a little over sixty years to begin introducing regulation and licencing. The delay is in part because Police refused to acknowledge such a profession existed. By licencing and regulating the occupation, it gave it legitimacy and set the foundations for a more professional class.
During the 1980s and 1990s a radical Australian nationalist group known as National Action emerge... more During the 1980s and 1990s a radical Australian nationalist group known as National Action emerged to challenge government policies and social initiatives aimed at promoting multiculturalism. Claiming to defend human rights, both National Action and supporters of multiculturalism clashed on their definitions of what these “rights” should be in Australia. National Action claimed to be defending the individual rights of Australian citizens, as well as their collective rights in the form of the common good of the nation, while supporters of multiculturalism sought to achieve rights protections for minorities1 in Australia and rejected the implied primacy of majoritarian interests advocated by nationalist groups. Proponents of multiculturalism sought to redefine Australian identity as a nation of diversity, in which there is no dominant culture, eliciting a strong reaction from Australian nationalists who in turn insisted that Australia is a country of European cultural heritage, from which it derives its values and beliefs.
Abstract This study of grazing on the Murrumbidgee River's flood plain had its origins in a ... more Abstract This study of grazing on the Murrumbidgee River's flood plain had its origins in a larger project which aimed to investigate the environmental impacts of cattle on riparian land. It was envisaged that the present study would provide the necessary historical ...
Projecting an a ractive political persona is as important in rural and regional politics as any o... more Projecting an a ractive political persona is as important in rural and regional politics as any other political arena. In the final decade of the 20th century and into the 21st century a new style of political persona emerged in rural and regional Australia which captured the a ention of ...
During the mid to late 1980s the radical nationalist group National Action was targeted by domest... more During the mid to late 1980s the radical nationalist group National Action was targeted by domestic intelligence agencies. Known as "Operation Odessa" it was part of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's (ASIO) program to combat what it saw as a rise in politically motivated violence. ASIO and state police Special Branch officers placed the group under surveillance and sent agents to disrupt meetings and recruit informants. Concurrently, National Action had developed its own counterintelligence program structuring the group in an effort to preserve secrecy, educating its membership in situational awareness and designating a senior member as an intelligence officer. Ultimately National Action counterintelligence program was unable to match the highly resourced government agencies and internal discipline issues meant the group was eventually disbanded. However, National Action's effort to develop a counterintelligence program provides some examples of what ...
This paper discusses some of the challenges in teaching intelligence gathering and analysis to no... more This paper discusses some of the challenges in teaching intelligence gathering and analysis to non-government organisations (NGOs). It used Gibb's reflective model to assess the teaching impact because the model allowed the workshop convenors a structure to form their thoughts and observations. The teaching reflections in this paper are based on an intelligence gathering workshop conducted in Sri Lanka to NGOs working in the South Asian region. The paper reports on several pedagogical and cultural challenges that were encountered in delivering the workshop. In chief, the participants were culturally South East Asian, and before this workshop they had no exposure to intelligence gathering techniques. However, once presented, the members of the workshop could see reason for using intelligence gathering techniques for their own planning and security measures. A notable pedagogical issue was the workshop participants' reluctance to use or trust police/intelligence and military terms and concepts. Subsequently, the workshop facilitators, who were not South East Asian, attempted to adopt a different lexicon more suited to social science, rather than a military or intelligence vocabulary. Using a social science lexicon also allowed for scaffolding existing knowledge possessed by participants to an intelligence analysis framework. Underlining this workshop experience is an assessment of the efficacy of teaching intelligence gathering and analysis skills to NGOs.
Journal of the Royal Australian historical society, 2009
Author: T. Whitford and D. Boadle Title: Remaking the Country: Australia's Rural Reconstructi... more Author: T. Whitford and D. Boadle Title: Remaking the Country: Australia's Rural Reconstruction Commission: 1943-46 Journal: Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society ISSN: 0035-8762 Year: 2009 Volume: 95 Issue: 1 Pages: 52-76 Abstract: Australia‘s Rural Reconstruction Commission remains the most ambitious inquiry ever conducted into rural production and resource management, agricultural commodity marketing, and country lifestyle. Yet most commentary on the commission is cursory, unsupported by close textual analysis of the 330 recommendations in its ten published reports, and preoccupied with assessing whether commissioners satisfied ministerial expectations by ticking off recommendations which were actually implemented by federal and state governments. For the most trenchant of these commentators the commission‘s ̳failure‘ is to be found in its preoccupation with ̳rigorous longterm planning‘ and ̳expert direction‘ of the rural sector which, it is claimed, no governmen...
What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How ... more What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How can governments prevent terrorist attacks from happening? Henry Prunckun and Troy Whitford address these questions in their systematic, comprehensive exploration of terrorism and counterterrorism. Notably, this authoritative text: • Explains complex issues in an objective, accessible way • Traces the phenomenon of terrorism through history • Examines law enforcement, as well as intelligence and military operations • Features case studies from around the world
By using social media and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, issue... more By using social media and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, issue motivated groups (IMGs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) can develop cyber defense mechanisms and security measures. In contrast to military and governments, non-state actors should not require secrecy to protect its interests—rather secrecy is counter to the aims and objectives of those organisations or groups. Subsequently, the greater the transparency of action, the better for organizations and groups working against hostile governments. This chapter examines the possibilities of using social media and CPTED principles to enable issue motivated groups and non-government organizations to develop cyber defenses against hostile governments or agent provocateurs. It illustrates some possibilities and options available including using social media platforms and mixed technological networks. A central element to developing cyber defense is ensuring the online spaces are designed and...
Rescue NGOs are organisations that conduct tactical operations targeting bars or brothels and oth... more Rescue NGOs are organisations that conduct tactical operations targeting bars or brothels and other establishments, with the intent of releasing people from situations of sexual exploitation. Their role in counter trafficking comes under significant criticism - predominantly for acting unilaterally and without regard for the impact their ‘raids’ have on trafficked victims and sex workers. This article will suggest that rescue NGOs are better placed to develop intelligence collection and analysis capabilities. It challenges recuse NGOs to rethink the paramilitary approach and train its rescue volunteers in intelligence collection and analysis. It encourages greater collaborations, training and awareness.
From the 1880s private investigators begin to appear on the Australian legal landscape. Commonly ... more From the 1880s private investigators begin to appear on the Australian legal landscape. Commonly known as private detectives the name itself proves contentious. Private investigations in Australia is a profession built on divorce laws which focused on finding fault. In such a social climate private investigations become an unwelcomed necessity. Without regulation or licencing private investigators tend to adopt dubious practices such as blackmail, trespass and perjury. Calls to regulate the industry came early from the judiciary which had come accustomed to private investigators giving evidence. It took legislators a little over sixty years to begin introducing regulation and licencing. The delay is in part because Police refused to acknowledge such a profession existed. By licencing and regulating the occupation, it gave it legitimacy and set the foundations for a more professional class.
Here is a segment on Radio National Australia where I along with other academics provide comment ... more Here is a segment on Radio National Australia where I along with other academics provide comment on Australia's far right.
What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How ... more What is terrorism? How do terrorists operate—what are their means, targets, and motivations? How can governments prevent terrorist attacks from happening? Henry Prunckun and Troy Whitford address these questions in their systematic, comprehensive exploration of terrorism and counterterrorism.
Notably, this authoritative text:
• Explains complex issues in an objective, accessible way • Traces the phenomenon of terrorism through history • Examines law enforcement, as well as intelligence and military operations • Features case studies from around the world
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Notably, this authoritative text:
• Explains complex issues in an objective, accessible way
• Traces the phenomenon of terrorism through history
• Examines law enforcement, as well as intelligence and military operations
• Features case studies from around the world