Commentary
The revelation by Mike Burgess, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), that foreign espionage has increased significantly in Australia was unsurprising.
Burgess said two years ago that Asia’s counter-espionage activities had surpassed its anti-terrorism efforts in recent times.
He previously warned of a plot by a foreign government to have candidates sympathetic to it elected to parliament.
What surprised many was his blunt statement this year that he had been pressured to curtail the organisation’s investigations.
“Individuals in business, ­academia and the bureaucracy have told me ASIO should ease up its operational responses to avoid upsetting foreign regimes,” Burgess said….