Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general of security Mike Burgess has revealed that a former politician from Australia engaged in activities that compromised the nation’s security by collaborating with an overseas intelligence agency.
In his annual speech, Burgess brought to light an espionage operation aimed at Australian citizens, utilising online platforms such as social media, emails, and professional networks for its execution, as reported by Reuters.
While the specific nation involved was not disclosed by Burgess, he noted the operation’s interest in penetrating Australia’s defence sector, with a particular focus on obtaining information about the AUKUS alliance’s efforts to develop nuclear submarines, a collaboration between Australia, the US, and the UK.
According to Burgess, this foreign entity successfully enlisted a past Australian political figure, who was not charged due to their current non-involvement in politics, accused of betraying their nation and peers for the benefit of a foreign power.
This former politician, as per Burgess’s account, went as far as to suggest involving a member of a prime minister’s family in the espionage activities, although this plan was never actualised. However, other elements of their cooperation were realised.
Burgess used the term “A Team” to describe the foreign operatives who sought to recruit Australians with access to sensitive national security information by proposing consulting opportunities.
During an international conference, Australian academics and political aspirants encountered covert operatives from the foreign agency.
Burgess pointed out that one academic shared insights into Australia’s security and defence priorities, while an ambitious politician divulged political intelligence to the so-called A Team.
“ASIO disrupted this scheme and confronted the Australians involved. While some were unwitting, others knew they were working for a foreign intelligence service,” he said, as reported by Reuters.
Burgess emphasised ASIO’s role in disrupting these espionage efforts, cutting off connections between Australians and the foreign intelligence agency. He issued a stark reminder about the non-retroactive nature of the country’s espionage and foreign interference laws.
The speech also covered ASIO’s proactive measures, including a notable online confrontation with the A Team, making it clear to them that their operations were no longer covert. In response to these threats, ASIO advised Australian public services, highlighting the recruitment efforts targeting various sectors including academia, politics, and public service.
“We have seen it try to recruit students, academics, politicians, business people, researchers, law enforcement officials and public servants at all levels of government,” Burgess said.
Additionally, Burgess raised concerns over cybersecurity threats, mentioning a state’s efforts, previously associated with the Volt Typhoon hacking group, to scout and target Australia’s essential infrastructure. This move, he suggested, aims to secure stealthy access that could facilitate sabotage in the future, underscoring the global challenge of protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
