This Month
‘We don’t know the truth’, says senior CIA officer
Beth Sanner was Donald Trump’s daily intelligence briefer for two years. Few people know the boundaries between secrecy and democracy so well.
- Kevin Chinnery
Wong warns on foreign interference after Indian spies expelled
Revelations Indian spies were asked to leave Australia in 2020 suggest Western intelligence agencies are unhappy about New Delhi’s espionage tactics.
- Andrew Tillett and Emma Connors
- Opinion
- National security
Modi mania comes at a price
Revelations that Indian spies were kicked out of Australia is a reminder of the need to be wary when it comes to dealing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Andrew Tillett
April
‘Safe room for terrorists’: ASIO warns big tech on encryption
Federal spy and crime chiefs will demand access to social messaging systems that allow terrorists, violent extremists and child abusers to operate with impunity.
- Jacob Greber
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Musk sets test for social media without boundaries
The sudden row between Australia and Elon Musk is a test of sovereign writ against the biggest companies – but also where government control of media should begin and end.
- The AFR View
Terrorism definition in spotlight after Sydney attacks
Muslim community leaders are calling for a rethink of how law enforcement defines terrorism after the Sydney church stabbing.
- Max Mason
March
PM backs spy chief’s refusal to name turncoat ex-MP
Anthony Albanese retains confidence in ASIO boss Mike Burgess, who is under pressure to reveal the identity of a former politician cultivated by foreign spies.
- Andrew Tillett
February
‘Keeps me up at night’: How Australia’s government sees hacker threat
Home affairs Minister Clare O’Neil has warned of a growing threat of cyber sabotage to Australian power, telecommunications, health and water infrastructure.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Updated
- National security
Spy boss defies pressure to name ex-MP who betrayed Australia
Mike Burgess has defied a political firestorm pressuring him to name the former politician who he revealed was recruited by a foreign spy agency and betrayed Australia.
- Andrew Tillett
Ex-politician ‘sold out Australia’: spy chief
Delivering his annual security threat assessment, ASIO chief Mike Burgess has declassified details of a foreign intelligence service’s activities in Australia.
- Andrew Tillett
October 2023
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Australia confronts a world of trouble
Even before Hamas struck, foreign-policy makers have had to get used to a pitiless procession of global shocks.
- Rory Medcalf
ASIO on high alert as Middle East explodes
ASIO boss Mike Burgess says the agency has increased its vigilance since the Hamas attacks on Israel.
- Matthew Cranston
Threat of home-grown terror ‘evolving continually’, warn ASIO, FBI
FBI director Christopher Wray the conflict in Israel had left a highly volatile environment which lent itself to domestic terror.
- Matthew Cranston
‘Get out now’, Wong tells those wishing to leave Israel
The government is working with Egypt and Israel to try to secure the passage out of Gaza of at least 19 Australian citizens.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
‘Words matter’: ASIO warns social cohesion at risk
ASIO boss Mike Burgess has warned politicians and others against inflaming religious and racial tensions on the back of the war in Israel.
- Phillip Coorey
February 2023
- Opinion
- Law
Why can’t ASIO catch the spies?
Despite big budget increases and new powers, the security agency has been responsible for the arrest of one person in five years.
- Aaron Patrick
ASIO breaks up ‘hive of spies’ trying to steal secrets
ASIO head Mike Burgess says more Australians are being targeted by foreign espionage agencies than ever before.
- Andrew Tillett
November 2022
ASIO downgrades risk of local terrorist attack
The terrorism threat level will be lowered to ‘possible’ with the degradation of Islamic terrorist groups making Australia safer.
- Andrew Tillett
March 2022
- Opinion
- Australia's China challenge
Blunt talk from intelligence chiefs is a welcome change
Australian politicians and officials used to treat China as the Voldemort of geopolitics – the country that could not be named. That is all changing.
- Andrew Tillett
February 2022
- Opinion
- Federal election
War on securocrats is a final descent into policy madness
The Coalition has doubled down in its attacks on current and former security mandarins to make its point.
- Laura Tingle