Australia’s spy chief, Mike Burgess, has accused several friendly nations of engaging in foreign interference operations within the country. He revealed this alarming information during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), stating that the identities of these countries would surprise many. Burgess confirmed that Iran has been actively involved in foreign interference, including a surveillance operation on an Iranian-Australian’s home, which Australian intelligence successfully disrupted. However, he emphasized that Iran is not the only culprit. He stated, “I can think of at least three or four that we’ve actually actively found involved in foreign interference in Australian diaspora communities.” He highlighted that some of these countries are considered allies, but declined to disclose their names. Burgess further explained that foreign interference, espionage, and politically motivated violence are Australia’s top security concerns. He emphasized that multiple countries are actively trying to intimidate and threaten Australians living within the country, particularly those within diaspora communities. He assured the public that ASIO effectively deals with such threats when discovered. In 2022, Burgess revealed that ASIO thwarted a foreign interference plot orchestrated by a wealthy individual with close ties to a foreign government. This individual, dubbed “the puppeteer,” funneled significant funds to an employee to manipulate an election, although the specific election targeted was not disclosed. Recently, ASIO raised Australia’s terrorism threat level to “probable,” citing a growing trend of homegrown extremism. This increase in extremist ideologies, fueled by online misinformation, has raised concerns about the potential for violent acts within the next twelve months. Burgess expressed worry about the influence of online platforms on minors, who are particularly vulnerable to extremist content and propaganda, highlighting the need for greater vigilance. He also voiced concern about the upcoming general election in 2025, as it will likely be a focal point for heated social discussions, potentially becoming a target for politically motivated violence. The revelation of widespread foreign interference, coupled with the heightened terrorism threat, underscores the complex security challenges facing Australia. ASIO’s commitment to proactively addressing these issues is crucial in protecting the country’s national security and democratic processes.
