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(Canberra, 2026-01-21 02:11:00) – Australia’s national security adviser, Philippa Brant, has resigned as the government responds to the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack.
The resignation of prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s top security advisor comes at a sensitive time for the government, following a recent terrorist attack and ongoing scrutiny of its response.
- Philippa Brant, national security adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has stepped down from her role.
- ABC News confirmed Brant’s resignation and her intention to pursue a career change.
- Brant’s departure marks the second senior exit from the prime minister’s advisory ranks in three months.
- The government recently passed hate law reforms and announced a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.
ABC News confirmed that Brant, a Mandarin speaker wiht a doctorate focused on China and a former Office of National Intelligence officer, formally resigned this week.
Brant has held a long career in foreign policy and national security, including roles as a research associate at the Lowy Institute and as the inaugural recipient of the Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award, according to ABC News.
She previously worked in Beijing as a Visiting Scholar at the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and interned in the Health and nutrition Division at UNICEF China, ABC News reported.
A Labor source stated that Brant’s resignation was unrelated to the recent terrorist events and that her departure was not imminent, as reported by ABC News.
Parliamentary Response and Scrutiny
Brant’s resignation comes at a time of intense scrutiny for the Albanese government following the Bondi terror attack. The prime minister has faced growing criticism over his leadership in the wake of the attack, according to ABC News.
On Wednesday, Albanese defended the government’s response, arguing that hate law reforms passed during a marathon parliamentary session would strengthen Australia’s safety framework, ABC News reported.
The legislation establishes a framework for the federal government to ban extremist groups, introduces additional powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas, and increases penalties for religious leaders who promote violence, according to ABC News.
Earlier this month, Albanese announced a royal commission to investigate antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, with former High Court justice Virginia Bell leading the inquiry, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, ABC News reported.
Recent Advisory Departures
brant’s departure marks the second senior exit from the prime minister’s advisory ranks in three months.In October, Kathy Klugman, Albanese’s top foreign policy adviser, was appointed as the first female Director-General of the Office of National intelligence, ABC News reported.
Klugman will replace Andrew Shearer, who has been named as Australia’s next ambassador to Japan, according to ABC News.
The prime minister’s office did not respond to a request for comment, ABC News reported.
