ASIO expects ‘distinct increase’ in radicalised anti-vaxxers

The nation’s spy agency has revealed how threats from radicalised anti-vaxxers and freedom protesters will continue and what they are doing about it.

The nation’s domestic spy agency expects the threat from radicalised anti-vaxxers and freedom protesters to continue, despite lockdowns and quarantine orders being wound back or abolished.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the agency was monitoring a “distinct increase in radicalisation and specific-issue grievance.’’

Delivering his third annual threat assessment in Canberra last night, Mr Burgess said some Australians believed the government’s approach to vaccinations and lockdowns infringed their freedoms, and that in a small number of cases “grievance turned to violence.’’

“Obvious examples are the violent incidents at Covid-related protests fuelled by anti-vaccination, anti-lockdown and anti-government agendas,’’ he said.

Mike Burgess, ASIO’s Director-General. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We have also seen threats against public office holders, an attack on a vaccination clinic, and several physical assaults on healthcare workers.

“We assess that these tensions and the associated possibility of violence will persist.’’

Intelligence agencies and law enforcement have been concerned about the violent action of some of the so-called freedom protesters demonstrating against government Covid mandates.

A loaded gun was found in an anti-vax protesters car in Canberra last week.

Mr Burgess reiterated that ASIO had no problem with people expressing opinions, and did not investigate peaceful protest or dissent.

“The vast majority of people who choose not to be vaccinated will not engage in violence in response to vaccine mandates. The vast majority of protesters are not violent extremists, and the vast majority of the protests are not violent. ASIO’s focus is on a small number of angry and alienated Australians,’’ he said.

“The behaviours we are seeing in response to Covid lockdowns and vaccinations are not specifically left or right wing.

“They are a cocktail of views, fears, frustrations and conspiracies. Individuals who hold these views, and are willing to support violence to further them, are best and most accurately described as ideologically motivated violent extremists.’’

Mr Burgess highlighted an incident where Old Parliament House was set alight. Several men have been charged.

“Some of the alleged violent acts at the recent Old Parliament House protest are a case in point. The individuals involved were driven by a diverse range of grievances, including anti-vaccination agendas, conspiracy theories and anti-government sovereign citizen beliefs,’’ he said.

‘YOUNG RINGLEADERS’

ASIO is increasingly monitoring children, after online radicalisation went into “overdrive’’ during Covid-19 lockdowns, sparking an alarming increase in the numbers of young people embracing radical and dangerous ideology.

The nation’s chief domestic spy, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, revealed minors now made up half of the agency’s highest priority investigations each week.

In his third annual threat assessment, delivered to an audience of spies, law enforcement and national security officials in Canberra on Wednesday, Mr Burgess said ASIO had identified “young ringleaders’’ who targeted their peers, desensitising them by exposing them to increasingly extreme and violent propaganda.

“Believe me when I tell you that ASIO finds these kinds of cases challenging — we do not belong in the schoolyard — and while we act when there is a threat of violence, the broader trend of teenage radicalisation demands a different response, one where ASIO and law enforcement are not the answer,’’ he said.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has warned that children are being radicalised in increasing numbers. Picture: Gary Ramage

In a wide-ranging look at Australia’s national security landscape, Mr Burgess also revealed:

Foreignespionage was a greater threat to Australian than terrorism

Foreign spies were approaching potential targets in Australia through dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

A “small number’’ of anti-vaxxers and anti-mandate protesters were of concern to ASIO.

ASIO’s terrorism caseload diminished last year, and with no terror attacks on Australian soil, although there were two major plot disruptions

Cyber-crime and cyber-enabled espionage spiralled while the nation worked from home under Covid lockdowns.

Mr Burgess said the number of minors being radicalised was getting higher, and the age of those swayed was getting lower.

“Children as young as 13 are now embracing extremism, and this is happening with religiously motivated violent extremism and ideologically motivated violent extremism,’’ he said.

“And unlike past experience, many of these young people do not come from families where a parent or sibling already holds extreme views.

“As a nation, we need to reflect on why some teenagers are hanging Nazi flags and portraits of the Christchurch killer on their bedroom walls, and why others are sharing beheading videos.’’

ASIO says foreign spies are contacting potential targets through apps such as Bumble. Picture: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mr Burgess said minors had previously made up 2-3 per cent of new counter-terrorism investigations.

“In the last year, though, the figure’s been closer to 15 per cent,’’ he said.

“And perhaps more disturbingly, these young people are more intense in their extremism. “Where once minors tended to be on the fringe of extremist groups, we are now seeing teenagers in leadership positions, directing adults, and willing to take violent action themselves.

“At the end of last year, on average, minors represented more than half of our priority counter-terrorism investigations each week.’’

Mr Burgess also said citizens’ concerns about government policies relating to Covid-19 vaccines, mandates and lockdowns had, in a small number of cases, turned to violence.

“ASIO does not have any issue with people who have opinions they want to express. This is a critical part of a vibrant democracy,’’ he said.

“Our concern is where opinions tip in to the promotion of violence, or actual acts of violence.

“So I should stress that the vast majority of people who choose not to be vaccinated will not engage in violence in response to vaccine mandates. The vast majority of protesters are not violent extremists, and the vast majority of the protests are not violent.

“ASIO’s focus is on a small number of angry and alienated Australians.’’

Originally published as ASIO expects ‘distinct increase’ in radicalised anti-vaxxers