ASIO boss Mike Burgess has warned Australians to be vigilant as he revealed the nation is experiencing the highest level of foreign interference and espionage in its history
, surpassing the Cold War, September 11 and the height of the Islamic State caliphate.
“Based on what ASIO is seeing, more Australians are being targeted for espionage and foreign interference than at any time in Australia’s history – more hostile foreign intelligence services, more spies, more targeting, more harm, more ASIO investigations, more ASIO disruptions,” Burgess, the agency’s director-general, said in a speech on Tuesday night.
“Foreign intelligence services have used cut-outs and front companies to offer funding for programs, almost certainly with the intent to shape the coverage in favour of the foreign government,” Burgess said. Burgess said multiple nations were behind the foreign interference activities in Australia, and ASIO had adopted a more aggressive approach to counter-espionage that involved recruiting new people and adopting new tactics.In keeping with ASIO policy, he did not name the countries or individuals involved, but he noted that while some were authoritarian regimes, others were governments considered friends by Australia.
Turnbull told the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security that the foreign influence transparency scheme he established in 2018 needed to be overhauled to ensure activities of concern did not go undetected.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Need to do better’: ASIO ‘shrugging its shoulders’ at security camera breachSky News host Sharri Markson has hit out at ASIO’s attitude and “shrugging of shoulders” regarding the Chinese security camera breach, claiming it is leaving Australia vulnerable to its enemies. Ms Markson said the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is apparently “very sensitive to criticism” after complaining about comments made by the Sky News host last week on Paul Murray Live, where she pointed out there was no over-arching body to ensure Australia is not vulnerable. ASIO claimed Ms Markson’s comments were “factually incorrect” and noted that the security organisation does not have a cyber security mandate. “Now, this is pretty extraordinary, ASIO says cyber security isn't in its remit – they’re kidding,” she said. “ASIO's top priority, according to their own website, is counter-espionage and foreign interference.” Ms Markson said if cyber security is not ASIO's remit, “then their remit needs a rethink”. “ASIO sending an email objecting to criticism and asking for a correction is not going to make Australia a safer place,” she added. “They need to do better. James Paterson is right – he has exposed a flaw in our national security where no agency is taking responsibility, yet, they all have a sophisticated understanding of the threats posed to us.”
Read more »
BHP wants coking coal for the long haul despite mine salesBHP chief Mike Henry says coking coal remains in BHP’s long-term plans but only the elite, hard coking coals that will survive longest in a low carbon world.
Read more »
‘They want to eat our lunch’: BHP warns on global resources raceOPINION: Mike Henry says nations across the world are desperate to encourage new mines, adding to his short-term optimism around China. But can Australia keep up with this global race?
Read more »
‘They want to eat our lunch’: BHP warns on global resources raceOPINION: Mike Henry says nations across the world are desperate to encourage new mines, adding to his short-term optimism around China. But can Australia keep up with this global race?
Read more »
Intelligence gathered by Chinese balloon likely ‘not significant’The intelligence gained by China’s spy balloon over America was likely “not significant”, but the activity took on larger implications, according to former National Security Agency director Mike Rogers. “How can you exchange in a meaningful dialogue when you see actions like this and then you watch how the Chinese responded,” Mr Rogers told Sky News host Sharri Markson. “They outright lied about the characterisation about what the balloon was doing, and then they refused to talk to the United States in the midst of all of this. “That’s not the way you solve problems.”
Read more »
Russian invasion of Ukraine is ‘armed aggression’ the world has not seen in ’70 years’National Security Agency Former Director Mike Rogers says Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is “armed aggression” the world has not seen in Europe for 70 years. “We took a series of very visible moves to highlight our concerns and the fact we felt some of Russia’s behaviour was unacceptable,” Mr Rogers told Sky news host Sharri Markson. “The President at times would often choose not to – directly raise those issues with his counterpart – Putin has no regard for the norms of international behaviour and believes it is perfectly reasonable to actually execute armed aggression against a neighbour in a way we have not seen in Europe for 70 years.”
Read more »