Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, Asio boss says
Australian politician ‘sold out’ to foreign regime after being recruited by spies, Asio boss says
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/28/australian-politician-sold-out-to-foreign-regime-after-being-recruited-by-spies-asio-boss-says
Mike Burgess outlines activities of spy network dubbed ‘the A-team’ in annual threat assessment, without naming former politician nor the country involved
The sad part for me is not that cunts will sell out their nation for cash but how little money it actually takes.
If it isn’t the CCP trying to corrupt our Labour politicians, it is the FSB and Russian Mafia successfully corrupting our LNP politicians.
If half of their power structures have their way, they won’t have democracy by the end of the year…
I doubt the russians are fucking with us they are too preocupied with europe and america.
And we are militarily and culturally tied to both. Fucking with us is part of their job of fucking with europe and america.
Military tied to American. Economic tied China.
When shove comes to push Australia will give up economic for security!
I would guess because it is not just them. I would not be shocked if there were at least a dozen intelligence agencies around the world with information sources in the government.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Delivering his annual threat assessment on Wednesday evening, Burgess said Asio confronted the spy network last year and was now speaking publicly about it because “we want the A-team to know its cover is blown”.
They looked to recruit students, academics, politicians, businesspeople, researchers, law enforcement officials and public servants at all levels of government, while using false, anglicised personae to approach their targets.
“Most commonly, they offer their targets consulting opportunities, promising to pay thousands of dollars for reports on Australian trade, politics, economics, foreign policy, defence and security.”
Burgess said the counter foreign interference taskforce – led by Asio but also comprising the Australian federal police and other agencies – sought to “stop attempts to monitor and harass members of Australia’s diaspora communities”.
Burgess said he was also “aware of one nation state conducting multiple attempts to scan critical infrastructure in Australia and other countries, targeting water, transport and energy networks” although it was not believed to be actively planning sabotage.
Australia’s terrorism threat level remained unchanged at “possible”, but Burgess said that did not mean “negligible”, with conflict in the Middle East “resonating” and Asio “carefully monitoring the implications for domestic security”.
The original article contains 970 words, the summary contains 195 words. Saved 80%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
Missed the headline point
Former politician targeted
Without naming the individual, Burgess said the A-team “successfully cultivated and recruited a former Australian politician”. He said this occurred “several years ago”.
“This politician sold out their country, party and former colleagues to advance the interests of the foreign regime,” Burgess said. “At one point, the former politician even proposed bringing a prime minister’s family member into the spies’ orbit. Fortunately that plot did not go ahead but other schemes did.”
Does that mean he goes to jail now? Some consequence for there action, or do they get some bad press and a slap on the wrist?
Nah they won't get outed or penalised. They'll just get invited to less cool parties now because treason is gross and nobody wants to be seen with that