Australia's domestic intelligence chief, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, has disclosed a significant breach involving a former Australian politician who was recruited by a foreign regime. This recruitment was part of an espionage operation aimed at accessing classified information through high-profile figures, including a member of a prime minister's family. The operation is part of a broader pattern of espionage and foreign interference targeting Australians, with public servants and a former politician specifically mentioned as having been compromised. The Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, established in 2020, has conducted over 120 operations in response to these threats. The identity of the foreign regime involved was not explicitly named, but there are insinuations it could be the People's Republic of China (PRC). Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and former treasurer Joe Hockey have both commented on the situation, with Hockey criticizing the ASIO chief for not naming the involved politician and stating that every politician's loyalty will now be under scrutiny.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess is under pressure to identify the ex-politician he revealed worked for a foreign intelligence agency, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and former treasurer Joe Hockey both calling on the spy chief to name the person responsible. https://t.co/uP71cpQOJP
Joe Hockey has unleashed on Australia’s spy boss after the ASIO chief made the “extraordinary” claim that an unnamed Australian politician had “sold out” their country. https://t.co/0B0XlfcVDi
Australia: Former politician became foreign agent, nation's spy boss says https://t.co/X6LHFJr92U
So the Asio chief talked about a few things, such as a former Australian politician being recruited as a spy. The @australian, though, decided to 'splash' with a different angle... https://t.co/eqbSvbq8WQ
A former politician was cultivated by spies, Australian intelligence has revealed, and former treasurer Joe Hockey says every politician's loyalty will be questioned until that "traitor" is named. https://t.co/ZpEUfowWKq
'Spy vs Spy': Australian Intel Chief Reveals Foreign Espionage Network https://t.co/x5PUuc3lpI https://t.co/ctaC3gf4nE
ASIO boss Mike Burgess has blown the cover of a sophisticated foreign interference operation that involved a former politician betraying Australia and attempting to bring a prime minister’s relative into the orbit of foreign spies https://t.co/SvpfP9snpT
Defence Minister Richard Marles has labelled the revelation an ex-politician "sold out" the country to a foreign power a "timely reminder" of the threat posed by hostile intelligence agents to Australia. https://t.co/K0gRRITZxX
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has reacted to ASIO’s “timely reminder” of espionage and foreign interference levels in Australia. https://t.co/Ioik6425kp
Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, Asio boss says | Australian foreign policy | The Guardian https://t.co/HF7iihmI9x
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has reported that more Australians are being targeted for espionage and foreign interference than ever before. https://t.co/RyNxYOkgZm
NEW: ‘Its cover is blown’: Australian spymaster reveals foreign espionage network https://t.co/OMkgeRgRGS
Australia's ASIO reveals plot by retired politician to introduce PM's family member to foreign spies: Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce has conducted more than 120 operations since it was established in 2020 https://t.co/uX5HyDfGte
Sky News host Caleb Bond says espionage is “certain” following ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess’ address tonight on a foreign intelligence unit successfully recruiting a former Australian politician. https://t.co/WxinSj2Tq9
Australia’s spy chief reveals details of a foreign intelligence service’s efforts to target Australians for information, says his agency had confronted the spy masters to let them know they had been caught : countr not named (PRC?) https://t.co/MMuels9t4K
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said foreign spies have been targeting public servants and managed to breach a former politician. https://t.co/2s9cUaIpfG
Australia’s domestic spy chief has revealed a foreign regime recruited a former lawmaker as part of a plan to access classified information via high profile figures, including a member of a prime minister’s family https://t.co/Ss1Fjzoajl
Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, Asio boss says https://t.co/LWxHHQfvhB