ASIO boss Mike Burgess also took the rare step of rebuking China even as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to visit later this year.
While the Australian political debate escalated,Mike Burgess says ASIO sees a direct correlation between inflammatory language and “people who think violence is the answer”.
Racial abuse is occurring on both sides but there is overwhelmingly more hate speech in tweets supporting the No side,analysis shows.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess said AUKUS secrets provide extra threats to security,and defended the agency’s decision to quietly disrupt foreign interference plots rather than seek prosecutions.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has also detailed a sensational plot by an overseas intelligence service to covertly recruit senior Australian journalists.
US officials have accused China of flying surveillance balloons over more than 40 countries,raising questions about whether Australia has been targeted.
The federal parliament’s powerful intelligence and security committee stopped short of calling for the controversial Chinese cultural centres to be closed.
Long-time national security watchers are concerned with the way in which both major parties have politicised the issue over the past week.
The Labor leader said the government was undermining Australia’s national interests,while the federal government doubled down its attacks on Labor over China.
The spy agency’s director-general Mike Burgess also revealed ASIO recently foiled a foreign interference plot in the lead-up to an election in Australia.
Security agencies are concerned the COVID-19 pandemic has supercharged groups and individuals spreading conspiracy theories.