Australia’s top spy official accuses allied countries of interference

• Australia's spy chief, Mike Burgess, accuses friendly nations of conducting foreign interference in the country.
• ASIO raised Australia’s terrorism threat level to “probable” due to a rise in extreme ideologies at home.
• ASIO will monitor risks related to Australia’s next general election, expected in 2025.

On Sunday, Australia’s spy chief accused some friendly nations of conducting foreign interference operations in the country, stating that their identities would surprise people if revealed. Last year, Canberra identified Iran as engaging in foreign interference and reported that Australian intelligence had disrupted individuals conducting a surveillance operation on an Iranian-Australian’s home.

Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), said that other countries are also secretly attempting to interfere in Australia’s political system and its diaspora communities.

“I can think of at least three or four that we’ve actually actively found involved in foreign interference in Australian diaspora communities,” Burgess said in an interview with public broadcaster ABC.

“Some of them would surprise you. Some of them are also our friends,” he said.

Burgess declined to name the countries involved, confirming only the government's allegation of Iran’s involvement. He stated that foreign interference, espionage, and politically motivated violence are Australia’s principal security concerns.

“In diaspora communities, there are multiple countries that attempt to threaten and intimidate Australians living in this country,” he said.

“When we find it, we deal with it effectively.”

In 2022, Burgess revealed that ASIO had thwarted a foreign interference plot orchestrated by a wealthy individual, referred to as “the puppeteer,” with deep connections to a foreign government. This person had channeled hundreds of thousands of dollars to an employee in an attempt to influence an election, although Burgess did not specify which election was targeted.

This month, ASIO raised Australia’s terrorism threat level to “probable,” citing a rise in extreme ideologies at home that has increased the likelihood of a violent act within the next 12 months. On Sunday, Burgess said that the spread of misinformation on social media complicates efforts to address the threat of politically motivated violence. He noted that minors are particularly vulnerable, often “locked in their bedrooms on their devices” and increasingly exposed to violent extremism.

The spy chief said ASIO will monitor risks related to Australia’s next general election, widely expected in 2025, as it will be a “focal point” for intense debate on social issues.

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