Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago

---

When he was appointed ASIO boss in 1996, Dennis Richardson unfortunately ignored his wife’s suggestion that he ought to tell his mother about his new job.

Naturally, an enterprising local news reporter contacted Dennis’s mum to get her views on her son’s appointment.

In his 2026 Lowy Institute Media Lecture, Dennis reflected on learning important lessons about disclosure, even when you’re one of the country’s chief secret-keepers, and the tenacity of journalists.

Watch the speech here: youtube.com/live/4eiiYV6LMPs