Following ASIO revelations that a former politician sold out the country to advance the interests of a foreign regime, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s son Alex disclosed that he was targeted by suspected Chinese agents in 2017 while his father was in power. ASIO director general Mike Burgess revealed that the unnamed former politician had betrayed their country, party, and former colleagues to serve the foreign regime’s interests. The politician offered access to a Prime Minister’s family member, but Burgess did not disclose any names or details about the politician or the foreign country involved.
In an interview with news.com.au, Turnbull mentioned that he suspected he might have been the family member mentioned by Burgess but couldn’t confirm. He described the approach from the foreign agents as “brazen” and immediately notified intelligence services about the incident. The group of agents reportedly had connections to a former NSW Labor state MP. Burgess detailed how the A-team of spies targeted the politician, posing as consultants, head-hunters, and more.
Mr. Burgess revealed that the A-team looked for Australians with access to privileged information on professional networking sites and used false identities to approach the targets. He emphasized the importance of vigilance against foreign espionage in Australia, with Defence Minister Richard Marles respecting ASIO’s decision to keep the details confidential. Marles highlighted the need for Australians to have confidence in the agencies protecting them and the importance of remaining vigilant against such threats. The former treasurer, Joe Hockey, called for the individual involved to be named, expressing concern about the lack of transparency in the matter.
Former New South Wales Labor politicians Ernest Wong and Sam Dastyari denied being the ones involved, as the search continues for the unnamed politician who betrayed the country’s interests. Finance and Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher refused to name the individual during Senate questioning, respecting ASIO’s decision to maintain confidentiality. The government continues to emphasize the importance of vigilance and responding effectively to security threats.