Morrison says nation's intelligence agencies up to the job on China

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has moved to assure Australians the nation's security bodies are up to the job of combating foreign interference after the former domestic spy agency boss warned the Chinese government was seeking to "take over" Australia's political system.

Mr Morrison said the nation's law enforcement and intelligence agencies had been working closely with the government for "many years" to protect Australia's democracy against any threats.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison sought to play down the significance of former ASIO boss Duncan Lewis's comments, saying the government had been on top of the issue.Credit: Getty

In an exclusive interview published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Friday, former ASIO boss Duncan Lewis warned Chinese authorities were using "insidious" foreign interference operations to win influence in Australia's political, social, business and media circles.

Mr Morrison sought to play down the significance of Mr Lewis's comments, saying the government had been on top of the issue.

"He [Mr Lewis] was in the job and he worked closely with our government over many years to ensure that we had the most robust and well-resourced system of protections and legal systems to protect Australia's democracy and to ensure that we could maintain the integrity of our system from any and all threat, and that applies globally," Mr Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW's Neil Mitchell.

"That is exactly what we are doing. Our position, laws, resources and agencies are doing great jobs and Duncan did a great job to get us into this position."

Asked whether Australia would follow the United States, which has passed legislation condemning China's crackdown on pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters, Mr Morrison said "we don't have to make these choices".

"We have a direct relationship with China. We have a direct relationship with the United States. The situation in Hong Kong is very concerning," he said.

"And we have many Australians who obviously live in Hong Kong and many Australians who have family who live in Hong Kong. And we've been urging restraint and patience.

"And at the end of the day, it's a matter for the Hong Kong administration to deal with the civil issues there. Our interventions, overt or otherwise, don't necessarily help that situation."

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the government had put a lot of resources into ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and other agencies to counter the "very real threat of foreign interference".

"We need to make sure that we can properly identify those who are involved in networks or
involved in activities of influence," Mr Dutton said.

"In some cases, people will be deported from our country, in other cases there will be
a disruption activity or arrests that are made and that's been the business of ASIO for many decades so that will continue."

Mr Dutton also hit out at former prime minister Paul Keating for suggesting the nation's security agencies had too much power over the government relationship with China, saying the remarks "reflected more on Mr Keating".

Australia's relationship with China has been a hotly contested issue this week, with both Mr Keating and former prime minister Tony Abbott weighing in on the debate.

Mr Keating accused Australian media of being "up to its ears" in drumming up anti-China hysteria, while Mr Abbott said China was bullying its neighbours and warned the two countries were about to enter a period of "cold peace".