Melbourne man charged with preparing for foreign interference

A man has become the first person in Australia to be charged with ‘foreign interference’ since new national security legislation was passed.

A Melbourne man fronted court on Thursday accused of preparing for a foreign interference.

A Melbourne man charged with “preparing for a foreign interference offence” faces the possibility of 10 years in jail if convicted.

He also becomes the first person charged for the crime since new national security legislation was passed in 2018.

The 65-year-old appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after a year-long investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference (CFI) Taskforce into the man’s alleged relationship with a foreign intelligence agency.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) were also involved in the operation.

It comes after the AFP executed multiple search warrants in the greater Melbourne area on October 16.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said the man was the first person in Australia to be charged with a foreign interference offence since federal parliament passed the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill in 2018.

“The CFI Taskforce has taken preventive action to disrupt this individual at an early stage,” he said.

“Foreign interference is contrary to Australia’s national interest, it goes to the heart of our democracy.

“It is corrupting and deceptive, and goes beyond routine diplomatic influence practised by governments.’’

The matter remains an ongoing investigation.