WEBVTT - Sabotage, surveillance and state-sponsored killings: ASIO's warning

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<v Speaker 1>From Schwartz Media on Daniel James, this is seven am.

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<v Speaker 1>Australia is under threat and has never faced so many

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<v Speaker 1>different threats at once. That was the message from Director

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<v Speaker 1>General of ASIO Mirk Burgess, when he gave his annual

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<v Speaker 1>Threat assessment on Wednesday night. Asier's work is usually classified,

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<v Speaker 1>but Burgess has taken the extraordinary step of revealing some

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<v Speaker 1>of the intelligence that is let him to sound the warning.

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<v Speaker 1>According to Burgess, spionage and foreign interference are at extreme

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<v Speaker 1>levels and just last year AZIO foiled five attempted terror

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<v Speaker 1>attacks on Australian soil. Today, special correspondent for the Saturday Paper,

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<v Speaker 1>Jason gotsukis on why the national terror threat level is

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<v Speaker 1>probable and why it won't be going down anytime soon.

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<v Speaker 1>It's Friday twenty one. Jason. You're at the speech given

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<v Speaker 1>by the Director General of AS Mike Burgess where he

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<v Speaker 1>laid out the security situation in Australia right now. Can

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<v Speaker 1>you tell me what was like to be in the room,

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<v Speaker 1>who was there and how significant this address was?

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely? I think Daniel that other than the federal budget,

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<v Speaker 2>I think this Annual Threat Assessment speech delivered by Mike

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<v Speaker 2>Burgess has become one of the marquee annual events in Canberra.

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<v Speaker 2>It's certainly the night of Knights for Australia's intelligence community.

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<v Speaker 3>Welcome to the ben Chiefly Building, Welcome to ASIO, and

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<v Speaker 3>welcome to my annual Threat Assessment.

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<v Speaker 2>Australian Signals Directorate, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Defense

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<v Speaker 2>Intelligence Organization, they all send representatives to this event.

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<v Speaker 3>The Attorney General, the Honorable Mark drefuskc Chair, Deputy Chair,

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<v Speaker 3>and committee members of the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence Security, Directors,

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<v Speaker 3>General Inspector General CDs.

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<v Speaker 2>And perhaps most surprising of all last night was that

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<v Speaker 2>the Chinese ambassador was not only was he invited, but

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<v Speaker 2>he accepted that invitation and he was placed front and

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<v Speaker 2>center of the audience, and he was placed in a

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<v Speaker 2>position where the television cameras couldn't miss him. So it's

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<v Speaker 2>interesting that Mike Burgess is sending a message by the

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<v Speaker 2>kinds of people that he's invited, and it just underscores

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<v Speaker 2>the fact that this is a very highly choreographed event

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<v Speaker 2>and that Mike Burgess, the Director General EVASIO, he's someone

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<v Speaker 2>who not only understands how the media works, but how

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<v Speaker 2>to get the media to work. To his advantage, and

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<v Speaker 2>I think that's a really interesting aspect to his leadership.

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<v Speaker 1>And there was a lot of news in his speech,

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<v Speaker 1>things like the terror level threat will be remaining at

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<v Speaker 1>probable and that it won't be going down anytime soon,

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<v Speaker 1>that Australia is under attack in all different ways, and

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<v Speaker 1>that ASIO has foiled five terror plots on Australian soil

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<v Speaker 1>just in the past year. So can you tell me

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<v Speaker 1>what we know about these attempted attacks and how they

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<v Speaker 1>are different from what we've seen in the past.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, you know, one of the most alarming things that

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<v Speaker 2>struck me about this speech was that there's been such

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<v Speaker 2>a significant shift in the types of people likely to

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<v Speaker 2>commit an attack. So we're still seeing religiously motivated violent extremism,

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<v Speaker 2>but it's not the majority. So whereas you know, perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>ten years ago, we were seeing groups like ISIL, ISIS

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<v Speaker 2>and al Qaeda inspiring direct attacks here, now extremists tend

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<v Speaker 2>to be much more self radicalizing.

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<v Speaker 3>Now the most likely perpetrator of a terrorist attack is

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<v Speaker 3>a lone actor from a family previously unconnected to extremism.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think what really stood out for me from

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<v Speaker 2>the speech that the majority of threats are coming from

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<v Speaker 2>racist nationalist extremists who are trying to mainstream their beliefs

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<v Speaker 2>and expand their movement, and they're doing this by very provocative,

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<v Speaker 2>offensive and high profile stunts. According to Mike Burgess, the

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<v Speaker 2>greatest threat of violence come from individuals on the periphery

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<v Speaker 2>of these organized groups. And another thing that was that

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<v Speaker 2>is very striking about the nature of the threats that

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<v Speaker 2>we face is that a lot of the potential threat

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<v Speaker 2>actors are much younger people than we've seen in the past.

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<v Speaker 1>So how young are we talking here?

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<v Speaker 2>Joce Mike Burgers said that the median age at which

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<v Speaker 2>miner is a first subject to ASIO investigation is now fifteen,

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<v Speaker 2>which is pretty alarming when you think about it.

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<v Speaker 3>Many of the recent cases we've dealt with are as

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<v Speaker 3>sad and sobering as they are shocking.

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<v Speaker 2>And Mike Burgess rattled off the types of things that

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<v Speaker 2>are getting young people noticed by ASIO.

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<v Speaker 3>Mine is allegedly sharing beheading video in the school yard,

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<v Speaker 3>a twelve year old allegedly wanting to blow up a

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<v Speaker 3>place of worship, a seventeen year old watching Nazi propaganda

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<v Speaker 3>and klu Klux clan videos and scrawling gas the Jews

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<v Speaker 3>on the wall of the classroom.

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<v Speaker 2>And according to Mike Burgess, these people are cherry picking ideologies.

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<v Speaker 3>Traditional distinctions between extremists motivations are breaking down. Individuals are

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<v Speaker 3>cherry picking seemingly antithetical ideologies to create new hybrid beliefs.

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<v Speaker 2>I just talked about one person being motivated by Islamic

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<v Speaker 2>state propaganda and neo Nazi propaganda. Another person allegedly described

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<v Speaker 2>himself as a left wing environmentalist aligned with Adolph Hitler.

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<v Speaker 2>Yet another person apparently considered himself to be a radical

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<v Speaker 2>communist anarchist while allegedly embracing nationalist and racist violent extremism.

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<v Speaker 2>So all types of views and that's increasing and will

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<v Speaker 2>only be exacerbated by the online landscape going forward. Mike

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<v Speaker 2>Burgers added that the impacts of social media, mental health,

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<v Speaker 2>the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, ubiquitous data encryption,

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<v Speaker 2>growing grievance, and the radicalization of miners are all things

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<v Speaker 2>that are swirling out there and making Australia's response to

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<v Speaker 2>security threats more complex.

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<v Speaker 1>After the break, how foreign governments are trying to sabotage

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<v Speaker 1>aucas Jason Beyond radicalized young people, Mike Burgess also talked

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<v Speaker 1>about the threat we face in Australia from other countries.

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<v Speaker 1>Can you talk to me about some of the ways

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<v Speaker 1>we know foreign governments in a fear here in Australia.

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<v Speaker 2>Perhaps one of the most interesting things that Mike Burgers

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<v Speaker 2>said last night was that if the spy game has

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<v Speaker 2>a rule book, it's been rewritten. We're seeing a small

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<v Speaker 2>number of authoritarian regimes behaving much more aggressively, much more recklessly,

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<v Speaker 2>more dangerously and more willing to engage in what Mike

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<v Speaker 2>Burgess called high harm activities here in Australia.

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<v Speaker 3>Australia's defense system will face greater threats from espionage, foreign

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<v Speaker 3>interference and potentially sabotage over the next five years. Multiple

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<v Speaker 3>countries are relentlessly seeking information about our military capabilities.

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<v Speaker 2>He cited an example of defense personnel being given gifts

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<v Speaker 2>by their international counterparts.

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<v Speaker 3>The presence contained concealed surveillance devices.

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<v Speaker 2>Mike Burgess also talked about orchis and how this has

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<v Speaker 2>really become a big lure for foreign intelligence agencies. Everything

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<v Speaker 2>about the subs, all of that very sensitive technology is

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<v Speaker 2>information that foreign governments are desperate to get access to.

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<v Speaker 2>They're trying to hack into our systems, get access to

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<v Speaker 2>those very sensitive secrets. Foreign governments are also picking up

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<v Speaker 2>on the fact that HAWCAS is not really overwhelmingly popular

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<v Speaker 2>in a lot of sections of the community, and that

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<v Speaker 2>as we move towards twenty thirty, as the submarine project matures,

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<v Speaker 2>we can expect foreign intelligent services to try to exploit

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<v Speaker 2>that and even potentially sabotage the whole enterprise if tensions escalate.

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<v Speaker 1>And how are foreign governments tapping into diaspora communities, what

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<v Speaker 1>impact is that Having.

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<v Speaker 2>Mike Burgess talked about this thing, which he calls coerced.

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<v Speaker 3>Repatriations, coerce repatriations can contribute to a culture of fear

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<v Speaker 3>within the diaspora, reinforcing the perception that a hostile foreign

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<v Speaker 3>government's reach extends across the Australian border.

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<v Speaker 2>So in a coerced attempt to repatriate someone, the foreign

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<v Speaker 2>government applies so much pressure the victim believes that they

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<v Speaker 2>have noel alternative but to leave Australia, irrespective of the consequence. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>these tactics include trying to strong arm people to report

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<v Speaker 2>on other members of the dousper community. There are threatening

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<v Speaker 2>perceived dissidents and their family members with violence.

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<v Speaker 3>If you're being pressured, I strongly urge you to contact

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<v Speaker 3>the National Security Hotline. I also strongly urge those complicit

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<v Speaker 3>in these activities to reconsider their involvement. We are watching

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<v Speaker 3>and we have zero tolerance.

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<v Speaker 2>According to Mike Burgess, AZIO is aware of at least

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<v Speaker 2>four countries that have plotted to use his words, this

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<v Speaker 2>sort of despicable behavior in Australia.

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<v Speaker 1>And beyond forcing people back to other countries, he also

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<v Speaker 1>raised the threat of state sponsored killings.

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<v Speaker 2>He did, and perhaps this was, you know, the most

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<v Speaker 2>alarming part of his speech that azio investigations have identified

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<v Speaker 2>at least three different countries plotting to physically harm people

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<v Speaker 2>living in Australia.

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<v Speaker 3>In one operation of foreign intellent servers wanted to silence

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<v Speaker 3>an Australian based human rights act.

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<v Speaker 2>And the scheme involved tricking the unsuspecting activist into visiting

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<v Speaker 2>a third country where the plotters would be waiting and

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<v Speaker 2>they planned to arrange an accident.

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<v Speaker 3>They planned to arrange an accident that was anything but accidental,

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<v Speaker 3>with the objective of seriously injuring or even killing the activist. Fortunately,

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<v Speaker 3>Asios intervened early to stop the travel and foil the

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<v Speaker 3>plot before it occurred.

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<v Speaker 2>He said that more recently last year, in fact, ASIO

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<v Speaker 2>Intelligence indicated a different hostile foreign intelligence service wanting to

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<v Speaker 2>harm and possibly kill one or more individuals on Australian soil.

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<v Speaker 2>But working with asio's international partners, the agency was able

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<v Speaker 2>to determine that this was part of a broader effort

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<v Speaker 2>by this particular regime to eliminate critics of its government

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<v Speaker 2>around the world.

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<v Speaker 1>And this speech, of course comes just before an election.

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<v Speaker 1>Talk to me about the significance of that timing.

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<v Speaker 2>So obviously, Daniel, this is a big year in Australian politics.

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<v Speaker 2>We've got a federal election that we expect which has

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<v Speaker 2>to be called by May seventeen. This is an event

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<v Speaker 2>that is obviously very vulnerable to foreign interference. And Mike

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<v Speaker 2>Burgess was at pains to point out to anyone contemplating

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<v Speaker 2>any interference in our election process that ASIO already has

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<v Speaker 2>offices embedded within the Australian Electoral Commission to protect the

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<v Speaker 2>integrity of the upcoming election.

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<v Speaker 3>If a foreign regime tries to meddle in the election

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<v Speaker 3>by pressuring diasper groups, directing foreign language newspapers, spreading disinformation

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<v Speaker 3>on social media, or using any other tactics sometimes scenes overseas.

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<v Speaker 3>We will know and we will act.

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<v Speaker 1>Consider yourself warned, he added, Jason, thank you so much

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<v Speaker 1>for your time.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks Danieal.

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<v Speaker 1>Also in the news, Prime Minister Anthony Alberanesi has announced

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<v Speaker 1>a two point four billion dollars support package for Wyaler

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<v Speaker 1>and its steel works. Mister Alberanesi described the joint state

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<v Speaker 1>federal package as an investment in the nation and said

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<v Speaker 1>there is no industry more important for our nation than

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<v Speaker 1>steel making. Wyaler produces seventy five percent of the nation's

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<v Speaker 1>structural steel. The steel works, which was owned by GfG

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<v Speaker 1>Alliance and chaired by British billionaire san Jeeve Gupta, was

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<v Speaker 1>forced into administration by the state government on Wednesday. The

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<v Speaker 1>federal government also announced a new Green Iron Investment fund

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<v Speaker 1>to boost green iron manufacturing and supply chains, and Australia's

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<v Speaker 1>Refugee Community Sponsorship Program is now a permanent part of

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<v Speaker 1>the country's humanitarian intake. The Community Refugee and Settlement Pilot

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<v Speaker 1>CRISP welcome five hundred refugees as part of a four

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<v Speaker 1>year experiment where local groups of volunteers took on the

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<v Speaker 1>role of traditional settlement services. Yesterday, Assistant Minister for Citizenship

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<v Speaker 1>and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill said of the experiment, quote

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<v Speaker 1>it works. You can listen to our reporting on the scheme.

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<v Speaker 1>The title of that episode is I have eyes, but

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<v Speaker 1>I don't see the community groups helping refugees. Settle seven

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<v Speaker 1>Am is a daily show from Schwartz Media and The

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<v Speaker 1>Saturday Paper. It's made by Atticus Bastow, Shane Anderson, Chris Dangate,

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<v Speaker 1>Eric Jensen, Ruby Jones, Sarah McFee, Travis Evans, Zoltenfacho and

0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:44.080
<v Speaker 1>me Daniel James. Our theme music is by Ned Beckley

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<v Speaker 1>and Josh Hoagan of Envelope Audio. Tomorrow, we're bringing you

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<v Speaker 1>a bonus episode about the huge week in federal politics

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<v Speaker 1>and when you can expect the election to be I'll

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<v Speaker 1>catch you then at one