The submission reiterated what the Asio boss, Mike Burgess, said in his annual threat assessment speech: that Aukus has spurred “a distinct uptick in the online targeting of people working in Australia’s defence industry”.Ī bill introduced to parliament last month would make Asio centrally responsible for issuing – and then checking whether employees continue to be suitable for – the highest level security clearances. “Whether it is information from Australia’s intelligence community or our Five Eyes partners, about Australia’s groundbreaking nuclear-powered submarines program with US and UK partners, or other advanced defence and intelligence capabilities, Australia’s sovereignty demands that Australia’s most sensitive information, capabilities and secrets be protected.”Īsio boss Mike Burgess warns Aukus has spurred ‘a distinct uptick in the online targeting of people working in Australia’s defence industry’. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup It said the security clearance system needed to be “hardened” otherwise the secrets of Australia and its closest allies could be put at risk. It said these attempts posed a threat to Australian government personnel across parliament, commonwealth employees, the Australian public service, Defence and even the judiciary.Īsio said hostile foreign powers and their proxies “will continually seek to test the clearance system, seeking to put in place disloyal persons with access to classified and privileged information”.
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