ASIO chief Mike Burgess dismisses claims his statement was directed at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton

Australia’s top domestic intelligence chief has shot down suggestions that his remarks that “words matter” was directed at the opposition leader.

The chief of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, Mike Burgess, has knocked back suggestions a media statement released by the organisation was directed at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

The statement from Mike Burgess, director general of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), was released on October 12, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.

It said it was critical that all parties consider the implications for social cohesion when making public statements.

“As I have said previously, words matter. ASIO has seen direct connections between inflamed language and inflamed community tensions,” the statement from Mr Burgess read.

Mr Burgess said his statement was aimed at “all Australians”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

In questioning from Liberal senator James Paterson, Mr Burgess denied the statement was aimed at Mr Dutton.

“My statement was aimed at all Australians, including myself,” he said.

Asked why journalists had formed that view, Mr Burgess said he did not know.

Mr Dutton has previously maintained that he was told by Mr Burgess the statement was not directed at him.

Border force tasked with vape crackdown

The Australian Border Force is preparing for new vaping regulations which will task the agency with seizing imported nicotine and non-nicotine vaping products.

In May, the government announced it would ban the importation of non-prescription vaping products, in an attempt to crackdown on disposable vapes.

Border Force confirmed discussions were currently under way to secure further resources to ramp up seizures and destroy the products.

The Australian Border Force will soon be tasked with intercepting non-prescription vapes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Currently, Border Force passes on vaping products to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for assessment, and vendors are penalised, however this has proven to be resource intensive and has failed to deter usage.

In the last financial year, ABF intercepted some 800,000 vapes.

11 asylum seekers transferred to Nauru

Border Force officials have confirmed that 11 asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru in September, just months after the last remaining asylum seekers left the Pacific island nation.

In questions from Greens senator Nick McKim at Senate estimates, Rear Admiral Justin Jones, who heads Operation Sovereign Borders, says Border Force had intercepted 11 people on September 7 who were later transferred to offshore processing.

However, Rear Admiral Jones would not provide details about where their boat or boats were intercepted, if any women or children were aboard, and the arrivals country of origin, saying these matters were “operationally sensitive”.

It is the first transfer to Nauru in nine years.

Operation Sovereign Borders head Rear Admiral Justin Jones confirmed the interception. Picture: supplied.

Rear Admiral Jones said there had been a number of other interceptions this year but these had not resulted in any other arrivals to Nauru.

Senator McKim accused the government of “outrageous secrecy” for maintaining the former government’s policy of not commenting on on-water matters and referred to Labor Senator Murray Watt as “Mr Morrison” who introduced the term when he was the responsible minister.

He later withdrew the remark.

In earlier questioning, it was revealed that offshore processing on Nauru is budgeted to cost taxpayers $400m this financial year, though there are presently just 13 asylum seekers on the island including the recent 11 arrivals.

PM waiting weeks for Israel call

Australian bureaucrats are “still seeking to arrange” a call between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Appearing at a Senate estimates hearing on Monday afternoon, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade bureaucrats confirmed the department had initially reached out to their Israeli counterparts on October 8, the day after the first attacks on Israeli citizens by Hamas broke out, but were yet to confirm a call.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to speak with his Israeli counterpart. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The prime minister has received criticism from the opposition on the grounds that he hasn’t yet spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu, with opposition leader Peter Dutton calling for Mr Albanese to prioritise a trip to Tel Aviv.

“He’s (Anthony Albanese) put a request in it seems to Mr Netanyahu, and it’s telling that Mr Netanyahu hasn’t taken that call,” Mr Dutton said in an interview on 2GB earlier this month.

In questioning from Liberal senator Simon Birmingham, DFAT deputy secretary, Scott Dewar, said the prime ministers previously spoke on April 4 earlier this year.