ASIO boss Mike Burgess says Australian politicians are targets for foreign spies
Australian politicians are “attractive targets” for overseas operators trying to “steal our secrets”, the nation’s top spy organisation has warned.
NSW
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Australian politicians are “attractive targets” for overseas operators trying to “steal our secrets” the nation’s top spy organisation has warned.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has told a senate estimate hearings foreign intelligence services are “deceptively cultivating” politicians “at all levels of government”.
“Almost every sector of Australian society is a potential target if foreign interference,” he said.
“The threat manifests itself in different but equally unacceptable ways.”
Mr Burgess said ASIO had increasingly seen “evidence” of agents trying to use politicians to “advance the interests of the foreign countries”.
“In the coming weeks, I will write to all Commonwealth parliamentarians to warn they are attractive targets for those trying to steal our secrets, and manipulate our decision making,” he said.
Mr Burgess said he would continue to work with state and territory governments to ensure they “understand the threat” and “what they can do about it”.
Asked if ASIO had developed any training or support for parliamentary MPs to help them “resist” attempts at foreign influence, Mr Burgess said the organisation had “turned its mind” to the issue of explaining their concerns to politicians.
“Part of my writing to federal politicians is to draw this to their attention and offer some advice on how they might think about handling this problem,” he said.
Mr Burgess said the letter would include “high level advice” on what to look for and how to respond to perceived foreign threats or risks.
Originally published as ASIO boss Mike Burgess says Australian politicians are targets for foreign spies