September
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Brawls over RBA and ASIO as election season starts
Three institutions – the central bank, the security service, and the national census – all became political footballs this week.
- Laura Tingle
August
- Opinion
- Anthony Albanese
Dutton and Albanese ignore ASIO warning to tone down Gaza brawl
Peter Dutton sees an advantage in keeping up the pressure on Anthony Albanese over visas for Gaza refugees, accusing him of making the country less safe.
- Jennifer Hewett
Dutton demands visa ban on Gazans
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the government won’t compromise on national security, revealing 7000 Palestinians have had visa bids rejected.
- Andrew Tillett
Federal Police plan Parliament House walk-off amid pay dispute
The planned “extremely disruptive” industrial action is part of a pay dispute in which AFP personnel claim they are being lumped in with “desk job public servants”.
- Ronald Mizen
Support for Hamas may not bar Gazans from Australia: ASIO boss
The federal Opposition says social cohesion could be at risk if Labor offers Hamas supporters a safe haven.
- Andrew Tillett
Frustration, confusion and Andrew Tate driving extremism in the young
Extremism experts warn that young men are becoming radicalised after looking to social media for simple answers to complicated economic and social questions.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Markets mayhem jangles investor nerves
Why are markets are suddenly tumbling as sentiment turns down – and is this the start of something bigger?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Analysis
- National security
The politics of grievance has become something more sinister
Ever since 9/11, terror alerts and politics have been inseparable, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t substance behind them either.
- Phillip Coorey
July
Army private and the labourer: The couple behind Russian spy plot
Arrested at their Brisbane home, the couple are accused of being sleeper agents who allegedly tried to pass Australian Defence Force secrets to Moscow.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett and James Hall
May
Australia considers declaring Middle East no-go zones
ASIO and the Federal Police remain concerned about terrorism in Australia amid tensions in the Middle East.
- Andrew Tillett
‘We don’t know the truth’, says senior CIA officer
Beth Sanner was Donald Trump’s daily intelligence briefer for two years. Few people know the boundaries between secrecy and democracy so well.
- Kevin Chinnery
Wong warns on foreign interference after Indian spies expelled
Revelations Indian spies were asked to leave Australia in 2020 suggest Western intelligence agencies are unhappy about New Delhi’s espionage tactics.
- Andrew Tillett and Emma Connors
- Opinion
- National security
Modi mania comes at a price
Revelations that Indian spies were kicked out of Australia is a reminder of the need to be wary when it comes to dealing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Andrew Tillett
April
‘Safe room for terrorists’: ASIO warns big tech on encryption
Federal spy and crime chiefs will demand access to social messaging systems that allow terrorists, violent extremists and child abusers to operate with impunity.
- Jacob Greber
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Musk sets test for social media without boundaries
The sudden row between Australia and Elon Musk is a test of sovereign writ against the biggest companies – but also where government control of media should begin and end.
- The AFR View
Terrorism definition in spotlight after Sydney attacks
Muslim community leaders are calling for a rethink of how law enforcement defines terrorism after the Sydney church stabbing.
- Max Mason
March
PM backs spy chief’s refusal to name turncoat ex-MP
Anthony Albanese retains confidence in ASIO boss Mike Burgess, who is under pressure to reveal the identity of a former politician cultivated by foreign spies.
- Andrew Tillett
February
‘Keeps me up at night’: How Australia’s government sees hacker threat
Home affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has warned of a growing threat of cyber sabotage to Australian power, telecommunications, health and water infrastructure.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Updated
- National security
Spy boss defies pressure to name ex-MP who betrayed Australia
Mike Burgess has defied a political firestorm pressuring him to name the former politician who he revealed was recruited by a foreign spy agency and betrayed Australia.
- Andrew Tillett
Ex-politician ‘sold out Australia’: spy chief
Delivering his annual security threat assessment, ASIO chief Mike Burgess has declassified details of a foreign intelligence service’s activities in Australia.
- Andrew Tillett