One of the announcements made at the recent Australia-United States Ministerial meetings (AUSMIN) was that additional US intelligence analysts will be assigned to work at the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) within the Department of Defence in Canberra. Media characterised this as “foreign spies” working within the Australian Defence Force. There is some myth-busting that’s required as we unpack this issue.

First, what we are getting is not spies but intelligence analysts. Spies collect information in an undeclared and hidden manner. Intelligence analysts collect, read and analyse the material provided by spies, diplomats, the media and electronic devices, and then write reports about what they have read. This involves seeking to validate the veracity of the information for accuracy and reliability.