Former Australian Politician Accused of Selling Out to Foreign Spies Revealed in ASIO Threat Assessment

A former Australian politician has come under scrutiny after being accused of collaborating with foreign spies, as divulged in the recent Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) threat assessment delivered by Director General Mike Burgess in Canberra.

Burgess disclosed that a spy network, referred to as the A-Team, aggressively targeted Australians, including the former politician who allegedly sold out to advance the interests of a foreign regime.

The A-Team, a sophisticated intelligence service, scouted professionals across various fields such as academia, politics, and business, aiming to recruit individuals with access to sensitive information. They operated under false personas, using names like Sophy, Amy, Ben, and Eric to approach their targets.

According to Burgess, the A-Team enticed Australian defence industry employees with financial incentives in exchange for reports on topics like Aukus, submarine technology, and missile systems.

While the former politician was not named, Burgess revealed that the individual proposed involving a family member of a prime minister in their activities, a plan that was fortunately foiled by authorities. Other schemes orchestrated by the A-Team were disrupted by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce.

The taskforce, established in 2020, has conducted over 120 operations to counter espionage and foreign interference. Burgess emphasized the need for vigilance and awareness among Australians to recognize and report such threats.