February 23, 2023
REVELATIONS that Australia's spy chief has been pressured to stop espionage operations have sparked concerns from government and opposition MPs.
In his annual national security update, Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said he had faced pressure from business, academics and bureaucrats to ease operations to "avoid upsetting foreign regimes".
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said espionage was designed to undermine democracy, threatened Australia's national security and would not be tolerated.
"We can't let these things slide when our national interests are at stake. That's ASIO's view, it's Mike Burgess's view and it's the government's view as well," Dr Chalmers told reporters on Wednesday.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said anyone pressuring ASIO to go easy on spies should back off.
"Our national security and our democracy are not for sale. Do not sell out the national interest," she told reporters in Perth.
Asked what his message was to those pushing back against ASIO's work, the Prime Minister said the organisation was doing the right thing.
Anthony Albanese told the National Press Club that ASIO had the support of the government "in all of their actions".
Opposition spokesman James Paterson said the director-general's central message was that Australia needed to take security seriously.
