The head of the Australian domestic intelligence agency ASIO warned that the country will face threats of espionage, foreign intervention and potential destruction over the next five years.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess warned in his annual threat assessment that several countries “relatively seek information about Australia’s military capabilities”.
“Defense personnel are being personally and online. International peers have recently given out some gifts. The gifts contain hidden surveillance equipment.”
Burgess said Australia's Australian coalition will remain a “priority target for intelligence gathering, including countries we consider friendly to.”
He warned that the “minority of authoritarian regimes” behaved more positively, recklessly and dangerously.
“If the spy game had a rule book, it would be rewritten. If there were red lines, they would be blurred or deliberately wiped off.”
Burgess said at least three different countries mapped to harm people living in Australia.
In one case, foreign intelligence agencies wanted to deceive human rights activists into visiting third countries.
“They plan to schedule an 'accident', which was accidental, aimed at seriously hurting and even killing activists,” Burgess said.
“Luckily, Asio intervened to stop traveling before the plot and foiled the plot.”
In 2023, intelligence indicates another hostile foreign intelligence agency wants to harm and potentially kill one or more people on Australian soil, he said.
“There is no doubt that plots like this are frustrating. They not only involve plans that hurt people – obviously bad enough – they are shocked by Australian sovereignty and the freedom we cherish.”
A code was photographed for a man wearing glasses at the Parliament Building in Canberra. The head of the Australian Domestic Intelligence Agency (ASIO) warned that the country will face greater threats from espionage, foreign intervention and potential destruction over the next five years. Lukas Coch/AAP/DPA
