More Australians are targets of spying ‘than at any time in Australia’s history’, says the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO). The Indo-Pacific region is witnessing “great power competition” between China and the United States, while a “thirst” for covert information has driven espionage and foreign interference operations targeting Australia, the country’s intelligence chief has warned. Australia now faces unprecedented threats with more Australians being targeted by foreign agents than ever before, Mike Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said late on Tuesday. “The variety of governments conducting espionage will surprise you,” the ASIO chief said in his annual threat assessment for Australia. “They are using espionage to covertly understand Australia’s politics and decision-making, our alliances and partnerships and our economic and policy priorities,” he said.
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