ASIO boss warns of unprecedented levels of threat against Australia

An Australian human rights activist could have been killed in a fake accident abroad if it wasn’t for intelligence officials thwarting the plan, says the nation’s spy boss Mike Burgess.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general delivered his annual threat assessment speech in Canberra on Wednesday night (19 February), painting a dire picture about the level of international threat against Australians.

Mr Burgess said at least three countries had plotted against Australians with attacks planned on citizens in the country as well as overseas.

He said the plans would have been carried out if not for ASIO’s intervention.

“In a small number of cases, we held grave fears for the life of the person being targeted,” Mr Burgess said.

“In one operation, a foreign intelligence service wanted to silence an Australia-based human rights activist…

“The regime considers them opponents; we would call them human rights advocates…”

Warning of an unprecedented level of threats until 2030, Mr Burgess said Australia was vulnerable to international attacks.

He also noted antisemitic attacks in Australia had “not yet plateaued” and singled out Russia as one nation possibly aiming to sabotage Australian institutions and even elections.

“Russia’s brazen acts of sabotage in Europe show authoritarian regimes are willing to use a wider range of tools and tactics to coerce, intimidate and damage perceived adversaries,” he said.

“As a supporter of and supplier to Ukraine, it is conceivable Russia could also target Australia for sabotage.”

Mr Burgess said cyber units from at least one nation state were consistently trying to exploit Australia’s critical infrastructure networks, lay down malware and plan future access.

“We shouldn’t be complacent or consider ourselves insulated from any of these threats,” he said.

“We are not immune to hostile nation states undertaking acts of security concern on our shores or near our region.

“Whether such acts serve an internal interest, or a form of retaliation against Israel or our allies, we need to remain alert and responsive to these evolutions.”

The ASIO chief briefly detailed how intelligence officers last year dissuaded an activist from travelling overseas upon learning of a plot.

Working with international partners, ASIO intervened to stop one unnamed hostile foreign intelligence service from harming individuals on Australian soil.

“We determined this plot was part of a broader effort by the regime to eliminate critics of the foreign government around the world – activists, journalists, ordinary citizens,” he said.

“It goes without saying that plots like these are repugnant. They not only involve plans to hurt people – obviously bad enough – they are shocking assaults on Australian sovereignty and the freedoms we hold dear.

“Beyond those egregious examples, multiple foreign regimes continually attempt to monitor, harass, intimidate and coerce cooperation from Australians and those who call Australia home.”

Foreign interference attempts are also expected during the upcoming federal election.

During a subsequent television interview, Defence Minister Richard Marles played down the term “vulnerable” in relation to international attacks on Australia.

But he agreed the level of concern was higher than ever.

“The fundamental fact is that we live in the most challenging, in many respects, threatening strategic circumstances that we face since the end of World War II,” Mr Marles said.

“You can look around the world to see how complex it is, and in many respects, how volatile it is, and we’re not immune from that.

“Because of this, we are increasing our defence spending very significantly.”

In a separate media interview, Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson described the ASIO boss’s speech as “sobering” and “bleak”.

He said attempts to interfere with the upcoming election were extremely concerning.

“This has been a feature of democratic elections around the world,” Mr Paterson said.

“We know authoritarian states are particularly deft using a range of means, particularly targeting diaspora communities, using state-backed media and also using social media to try to influence political outcomes.

“It’s critical we stay on top of this task so it’s Australians who decide our elections, not anyone else.”