Mike Burgess, the ASIO Director-General, has been at the center of a controversy for refusing to disclose the identity of a former Australian politician accused of espionage for foreign agents, referring to the need to protect ASIO's 'secret sauce'. Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie and various media personalities, including Sky News hosts Caleb Bond and Chris Kenny, have called for the identity of the 'alleged traitor' to be disclosed. Despite the pressure, Burgess remains firm on his stance, prioritizing the protection of ASIO's operational secrets. Additionally, it has been reported that the politician was recruited by China's leading spy agency, the PRC's Ministry of State Security, which specifically targets Australia. This revelation has intensified the debate over whether the public has a right to know the identity of the alleged traitor.
Sky News host Chris Kenny has reiterated his call for the Australian politician who “sold out” their country to be named. https://t.co/LVFWfQLluH
The spy unit that ASIO Director General Mike Burgess described as the “A-Team” in his threat assessment speech involves a division of 🇨🇳 Ministry of State Security devoted to Australia. Despite Burgess’ refusal to name Beijing or discuss China’s alleged spying in Australia,… https://t.co/Sd3y1JQqe9
China’s leading spy agency has been revealed as the organisation behind the targeting of Australians. https://t.co/xjwp0IcOgC
Former Australian politician accused of helping international spies was recruited while serving in parliament - other reports said country was PRC (no surprise there!) https://t.co/AWp7uWehrU
#Exclusive | ASIO chief Mike Burgess has flatly refused to identify which nation was behind the recruitment of an Australian politician. https://t.co/SzbpagQrZ0
Sky News contributor Evelyn Rae says Australia should know the identity of the “alleged traitor” former politician but if revealing the name puts investigations at risk then waiting to reveal it could be beneficial for the country. https://t.co/I2wKtwg0L5
Sky News host Caleb Bond says the ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess is remaining “firm” on the stance to not reveal the former politician who engaged in espionage’s identity to the public. https://t.co/xKIArSqenD
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has called on Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil to name the former politician ASIO boss Mike Burgess said "sold out" Australia to foreign agents. https://t.co/wyUDIVBkyJ
Naming the traitor politician could compromise future ASIO investigations, Burgess tells @annajhenderson "If I shared the details of who it was, they might figure out how I worked out who it was, or how my organisation (did) and that's our secret sauce." https://t.co/5vfUbVLYAL
Mike Burgess on the former Australian politician recruited by foreign spies – Australian Politics podcast https://t.co/FKupXpRyhJ