July 15, 2024
The Coalition has urged Anthony Albanese to ask "serious questions" of the Australian Defence Force's vetting processes, after it emerged an alleged Russian spy was promoted as a case study for military recruitment.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the spotlight needed to be shone on the ADF's recruitment, after Russian-born couple Kira Korolev and Igor Korolev were on Friday charged with one count each of preparing to commit an espionage offence.
In 2023, the ADF was promoting Ms Korolev on its website to attract personnel.
"I was able to join without any prior experience because the army provided full training," Ms Korolev, an information systems technician, said of her experience in the army on the ADF's recruitment website.
Senator Paterson said "serious questions must be asked about vetting given an alleged Russian spy was used in ADF promotional material".
"Our ability to protect our military secrets in an era of strategic competition is absolutely vital," he said.
"It will be critical to understand how this breach occurred to ensure it is not repeated."
The alleged spies, who moved to Australia about a decade ago, were arrested on Thursday at their apartment in the Brisbane suburb of Everton Park following a major investigation by the Australian Federal Police and ASIO.
Police allege Ms Korolev secretly travelled to Russia while on long-term leave from the ADF, instructing her husband from abroad to access sensitive files using her official ADF account. "We allege her husband would access requested material and would send (it) to his wife in Russia," AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said on Friday.
"We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities."
At the weekend, the Prime Minister denied the ADF vetting processes were too relaxed.
"I think our allies that we work very closely with, particularly our Five Eyes partners, will take comfort in the fact that we have caught these people," Mr Albanese said.
"Our intelligence agencies do a fantastic job, and they ensure that they keep us safe from the various threats which are there.
"This is a reminder of the need for vigilance and a reminder of the need to provide that support."
Mr Albanese said Russia needed to "back off" from its international ambitions, declaring he had contempt for the nation.
"Russia engages in espionage here and around the world. Russia has no credibility," he said.
"And the message to Russia is, how about you get out of Ukraine and stop the illegal and immoral war that you're engaged in.
"And how about you try to stop interfering in domestic affairs of other sovereign nations.
"This is a country that has no respect for international law, and they should be regarded with contempt, which is what I have for them."
Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said the case highlighted the "vulnerability Australia faces".
"So close on the heels of the Assange case I think it ... underlines given some of the ambivalence around his treatment that espionage and national security laws are there for a reason," Mr Graham said.
'It will be critical to understand how this breach occurred to ensure it is not repeated' James Paterson Opposition home affairs spokesman
