Australia’s defence staff ‘actively targeted’ by foreign intelligence officials as ASIO officials warn of unprecedented threats of espionage

A proposed crackdown to curb the sharing of the nation’s military secrets has heard a chilling warning from a senior official.

Australia’s ex-military staff are being “actively targeted” by hostile foreign actors to spill the nation’s most sensitive security secrets, as officials call for tougher rules for individuals leaking classified information overseas.

The federal government has introduced legislation that could see individuals jailed for up to 20 years if they work for a foreign government or military without approval.

ASIO official Ewan Macmillan told an inquiry looking into the new laws that Australia currently faced “unprecedented” levels of espionage and foreign interference.

“Hostile foreign states and their intelligence services and their proxies are aggressively seeking access to Australia’s secrets – whether this be information or knowledge or expertise of our defence and national security capabilities,” Mr Macmillan said.

ASIO's Deputy Director-General Vetting Service Delivery Ewan Macmillan appeared before the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Additional Estimates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Individuals with access to secrets or knowledge related to these critical capabilities are being actively targeted by these intelligence services.

“This targeting is not restricted to individuals with current and ongoing access.

“Former employees or individuals who previously had access ... are seen as highly valuable targets, as they are seen as having less security support because they have less restrictions or obligations to report contact or engagement from foreign individuals.”

Military veterans and former defence public servants could face up to 20 years in jail if they undertake unauthorised work for a foreign government or military.

Last October, ASIO spy chief Mike Burgess revealed an academic recruited by China had been removed from Australia after he his attempt to infiltrate a top research institution was foiled by authorities.

It came after he flagged rising competition in the Indo-Pacific and Australia’s involvement in the joint AUKUS nuclear submarine pact as major drivers of foreign efforts to steal sensitive military information.

Mr Macmillan told Thursday’s inquiry that foreign intelligence services were also increasingly trying to pinpoint holes in the country’s defence and legal system to exploit vulnerabilities to their own advantage.

“Foreign intelligence services will seek to mask or obfuscate their approaches – often seeking to dupe or manipulate unwitting targets,” he said.

“In the face of this threat, and the need to protect Australia’s secrets, the need for this cannot be understated.”