Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, Asio boss says

  • 📰 GuardianAus
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 62 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 28%
  • Publisher: 98%

Australia Headlines News

Australia Latest News,Australia Headlines

Mike Burgess outlines activities of spy network dubbed ‘the A-team’ in annual threat assessment, without naming former politician nor the country involved

Mike Burgess says Asio has declassified ‘the A-team’ case to help Australians understand what the threat of foreign interference ‘looks like so they can avoid it and report it’.Mike Burgess says Asio has declassified ‘the A-team’ case to help Australians understand what the threat of foreign interference ‘looks like so they can avoid it and report it’.

They looked to recruit students, academics, politicians, businesspeople, researchers, law enforcement officials and public servants at all levels of government, while using false, anglicised personae to approach their targets. Burgess said the A-team was “offering Australian defence industry employees money in return for reports on Aukus, submarine technology, missile systems and many other sensitive topics”.Without naming the individual, Burgess said the A-team “successfully cultivated and recruited a former Australian politician”. He said this occurred “several years ago”.

Burgess said another Australian – described as an aspiring politician – “provided insights into the factional dynamics of his party, analysis of a recent election and the names of up-and-comers”.“We helped the unaware ones extract themselves, and severed the links between the others and the foreign intelligence service. Several individuals should be grateful the espionage and foreign interference laws are not retrospective.

Burgess said he was not naming the country involved because numerous countries conducted espionage and foreign interference and he wanted Australians to be alert to “red flags” regardless of the source.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 1. in AU

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Foreign intelligence service recruited former Australian politician, says ASIO bossASIO boss Mike Burgess reveals that a foreign intelligence service recruited a former Australian politician and warns about the breadth of their intelligence activities in Australia.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »

‘Your cover is blown’: ASIO boss reveals politician betrayed Australia to foreign spiesThe nation’s spy boss has exposed a sophisticated foreign interference operation that involved a former politician targeting a prime minister’s family.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

‘Your cover is blown’: ASIO boss reveals politician betrayed Australia to foreign spiesThe nation’s spy boss has exposed a sophisticated foreign interference operation that involved a former politician targeting a prime minister’s family.
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »

CBD Office Towers in Australia Sold at 20% DiscountMajor CBD office towers in Australia are being sold at a 20% discount to their peak value, indicating that the correction in the office market is nearing its bottom.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »

Cricket mourns as South African great Mike Procter dies following surgery complications7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Source: 7NewsMelbourne - 🏆 18. / 59 Read more »

Australian MPs Propose Measures to Reduce Supermarket PowersQueensland independent MP Bob Katter and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie plan to reintroduce a bill to reduce the powers of Australian supermarkets Woolworths and Coles. The updated version aims to scrap the voluntary food and grocery code of conduct, create a Commissioner for food retailing, and require supermarkets to publish payments to farmers. The MPs also want to limit supermarkets' market share to 20% within five years.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »