Spy agency ASIO monitored Adelaide’s far-right National Front to prevent racist attacks, declassified cabinet papers reveal

ADELAIDE was the centre of right-wing extremism in Australia, a 1994 cabinet briefing from spy agency ASIO reveals

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SPY agency ASIO identified Adelaide as the “centre of right wing extremism” in Australia and was monitoring the local chapter of anti-Asian group National Front, declassified federal cabinet papers from 1994 reveal.

Prime Minister Paul Keating’s Labor cabinet was briefed on anti-mail bomb measures after the deadly attack on the Adelaide offices of the National Crime Authority and intelligence agencies expressed their concerns about the potential for terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists.

The intelligence briefings are contained in cabinet papers from 1994 and 1995 which have been released by National Archives of Australia.

It includes information on the National Front, which under leader Michael Brander ran a campaign against the “Asianisation of Adelaide” in the 1990s.

The fatal 1994 NCA bombing in Adelaide

The group clashed with police and other protesters at rallies, disrupted a citizenship ceremony and jeered swimmers participating in a gay community sporting carnival.

An ASIO planning document circulated to ministers in November 1994, said the National Front was, “Active in Adelaide, with a high intent and capability to undertake acts of racist violence.” Intelligence agencies were also concerned about the potential for anti-Semitic and racist attacks by other far-right groups.

“Areas of large Jewish populations, such as Sydney and Melbourne, remain the most likely areas of concern, although Adelaide is currently the centre of right wing extremism. Similarly Asian businesses have been targeted by racist groups in Perth and Adelaide. The sensitivity of race as an issue means the level of risk posed by the groups will continue to be high, requiring continued investigative action by ASIO, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies”

One intelligence document said a national bomb response strategy was being considered after a parcel bomb killed Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and seriously injured lawyer Peter Wallis in the Waymouth Street NCA office.

National action leader, Michael Brander is arrested by police at Glenelg in 1995. Picture: File

Although the September 11 attacks in the United States were almost seven years away, Islamic extremism was on ASIO’s agenda — particularly in the wake of the 1993 car bombing of the World Trade Centre in New York.

Details of some of the terrorist groups with a presence in Australia have been redacted from the documents released on Monday (January 1) due to ongoing security concerns.

“Adding to uncertainties is the wild card of Islamic extremism perpetrated by small, diverse groups previously associated with international terrorism and distant from the Middle East (for example the groups responsible for the New York World Trade Centre bombing), an ASIO briefing stated.

ASIO expected “factional struggles” between moderate and radical elements for control of the major mosques in Australia could be expected to continue.

FEARS TOP SPY AGENCY OUT OF CONTROL

THERE were fears Australia’s top secret overseas spy agency was “out of control” and needed to be reigned in following the end of the Cold War, Cabinet papers from 1994-95 reveal.

It was also a time when Islamic terrorism was increasingly coming on to the top spy’s radar as a “wildcard threat”.

While the security landscape in Australia today has seen the introduction of the biggest reforms to national security and foreign interference, 1995 saw the reverse taking place.

In the final sitting week of last year Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced to Parliament new laws which strengthen treason and sabotage offences and new provisions designed to combat foreign interference in Australia’s political system, as fears of Chinese and Russian involvement grow to “unprecedented levels”.

But a 1995 cabinet submission from Justice Minister Duncan Kerr saw the offences of treachery and treason replaced with a narrower offence of treason, the repeal of offences of mutiny, assisting prisoners of war to escape and harbouring spies, as well as narrowing of espionage and sabotage laws.

“The existing provisions reflect their imperial and cold war origins and do not adequately recognise the present day realities,” Mr Kerr stated.

Mr Kerr also wanted the specific offence for killing the Queen to be eliminated, contained within treason laws, so she would have the same protections of law that everyone else has, but decided against this due to sensitivities around the Republic debate.

Australia’s security agencies were also becoming wary of the growing “wildcard” of Islamic extremism.

Prime Minister Paul Keating returns from a trip to Indonesia to sign a security treaty. Picture: File

In 1994 the Keating Government also announced its Commission of Inquiry into the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, which deals with overseas spying.

There were concerns that in the post-Cold War era the agency was “out of control” and lacked accountability following several former ASIS officers speaking out against it.

Cabinet papers reveal Foreign Affairs Minister Gareth Evans noted the agency had an ‘internal culture …(which) places a high premium on secrecy and loyalty’.

He decided against taking legal action against the ASIS agents for their “damaging public comments”, but publicly warned them against speaking out further fearing the impact on national security.

The inquiry was headed by former NSW Supreme Court judge Gordon Samuels who found there was no evidence to support allegations that ASIS was out of control.

Australia also dealt with the fallout of the April 1992 attack on the Iranian Embassy in Canberra, which was part of a co-ordinated assault in several countries by Iranian dissidents.

It was noted that despite warnings, “Australian officials did not come to grips with prior indications that an attack in Australia was possible”.

The Codd Review into the attack was released in 1995 and recommended a review of resources for counter-terrorism and overhauling information sharing arrangements between agencies.

- Matthew Killoran