Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk AFP spy scandal

The Australian Federal Police have confirmed in a letter to the LNP they are looking into the accidental naming of an ASIO agent in Annastacia Palaszczuk’s publicly available diary.

THE Australian Federal Police are looking into the disclosure of an ASIO agent’s name in Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ministerial diary.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the AFP have confirmed in a letter to the LNP they were assessing the accidental naming of the agent in Ms Palaszczuk’s publicly available diary for May.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office exposes identity of ASIO operative

The LNP had asked the AFP to investigate after the “administrative error” came to light in August.

But the AFP told the LNP it had already received a referral from another party and started an assessment.

”I am writing to inform you that the AFP was made aware of this matter prior to your correspondence and commenced an assessment of the allegation,” the letter from AFP Commander Jason Williams states.

“The matter will be assessed in accordance with our established processes and will include consultation with the affected agency.”

Section 92 of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act outlaws the publication of the identity of an ASIO employee or affiliate, with a penalty of 10 years imprisonment, unless consent is given in writing by the Home Affairs Minister or the Director-General of ASIO.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director General Duncan Lewis. Picture: AAP/Steven Saphore

The diary entry reportedly revealed the agent’s name in an entry detailing a meeting between the Premier, ASIO Director-General Duncan Lewis and Police Minister Mark Ryan.

Opposition assistant treasury spokesman Dan Purdie said the AFP assessment was proof the breach was serious.

“For the Australian Federal Police to mount an assessment of the Premier proves how serious the security breach was,” he said,

“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to cooperate fully with the Federal Police probe and let them get to the bottom of what happened.”

A spokeswoman for Ms Palaszczuk said the government had apologised for the mistake.

“We acknowledged and apologised for the administrative error at the time and removed it immediately,” she said,

“ASIO accepted that apology.

“We have also taken steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

Originally published as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk AFP spy scandal