Australia’s top intelligence official has issued a rare public warning about escalating foreign interference, revealing that multiple foreign governments are willing to conduct operations – including potential acts of violence – on Australian soil. The head of the Australian Security intelligence Organisation (ASIO) declined to name the countries involved, but the revelation raises serious questions about the vulnerability of Australians and the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape facing the nation. The warning underscores a shift from traditional espionage to more aggressive tactics, prompting debate about Australia’s security preparedness and response options.
Australia’s top intelligence official has warned that foreign agents are willing to carry out operations, including potential killings, on Australian soil. While the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) did not name the countries involved, the revelation has sparked intense speculation and raised concerns about escalating foreign interference.
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Despite its geographic isolation, Australia is not immune to international threats, according to the country’s top spy. Mike Burgess, Director-General of ASIO, recently warned that Australia’s location does not shield it from hostile actions, referencing a historical shift in the nation’s security landscape.
Australia’s distance from global conflict zones was once described as a “tyranny of distance,” creating significant logistical challenges for international engagement. However, that distance historically offered a degree of protection. In an era of instant communication, Burgess argued, that geographic advantage no longer guarantees immunity from external interference.
Mike Burgess warned of the danger of attacks and espionage in general. Which countries is he referring to in his speech? The media is speculating.
Reuters / Holly Adams (November 4, 2025)
This threat manifests in various forms, including the willingness of three unnamed countries to conduct operations on Australian soil, potentially targeting dissidents and critics. The warning from ASIO signals a heightened level of concern regarding foreign interference within Australia.
Burgess’ Rare Public Warning
Public statements of this nature from the head of an intelligence agency are uncommon in Australia. Espionage and counterintelligence are typically conducted discreetly. According to James Der Derian, Professor and Director of the International Security Studies Institute at the University of Sydney, this warning aims to raise awareness among Australians.
Der Derian explained that the statement also serves as a veiled warning to countries considering interference in Australia’s internal affairs, offering a less escalatory form of communication than formal diplomatic channels.
Speculation Surrounds Potential Actors
Immediately following Burgess’ remarks, media outlets began speculating about which countries might be involved. Reports have circulated listing nations known to monitor and potentially target critics living abroad, including Russia, China, Cambodia, and Rwanda. These countries have a history of attempting to “neutralize” dissenting voices, as described in intelligence circles.
According to Burgess, several countries are interested in critics living in Australia – and in sensitive information.
Reuters / Carlos Garcia Rawlins (May 27, 2021)
Der Derian cautioned against such speculation, noting that previous, similarly worded statements from the intelligence chief led to widespread miscalculations. He recalled a previous instance where Russia was widely assumed to be the focus of concern, when in fact India was operating a network of spies, resulting in the expulsion of several Indian diplomats from Canberra.
Even Allies Engage in Espionage
Der Derian expressed no surprise that even countries considered friendly to Australia are engaged in espionage. He stated that all nation-states, particularly emerging powers like India, routinely gather information about trade and strategic partners or competitors.
Burgess revealed that foreign spies in Australia are currently particularly interested in information regarding rare earth minerals, of which Australia has significant reserves. The AUKUS security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia – involving the sale of submarines with classified technology to Canberra – is also a focus of interest.
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