ESPIONAGE – AUSTRALIA

Spy claim for asylum draws wary response

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Nov-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says allegations about China’s attempts to interfere in federal politics are "deeply disturbing and troubling". However, he has stressed the need to wait until ASIO concludes an investigation into the claims that Chinese intelligence services offered to fund the federal election campaign of Melbourne car dealer Bo Zhao. A separate claim by Wang Liqiang about Chinese interference in federal politics is also under scrutiny. China has refuted his claim to have been a member of its military intelligence service. Wang is seeking asylum in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

MPs to monitor foreign interference threats

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 7-Jan-19

James McGrath says the joint standing committee on electoral matters will continue with its efforts to ensure that Australia’s electoral system remains free from foreign interference. McGrath is the chairman of the committee, and he says there has been no evidence to date of such interference, but that the need to be vigilant on such matters remains important. He says cyber interference has the potential to undermine confidence in Australian democracy.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON ELECTORAL MATTERS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Call for tougher penalties to stop trade secret theft

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 5-Jul-18

The federal government’s new espionage and foreign interference impose criminal penalties for theft of trade secrets on behalf of foreign interests. However, Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox argues that more legislative action is needed to protect against the domestic theft of commercial trade secrets. Clayton Utz partner John Collins notes that Australia has traditionally treated the theft of trade secrets as a commercial issue that attracts civil remedies, although he says there is potential for criminal penalties to be introduced in the future.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, CLAYTON UTZ, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BOEING COMPANY

Foreign spy threat to by-elections

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 8-Jun-18

The joint committee on intelligence and security has made 60 recommendations in its report on the Federal Government’s Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill. Attorney-General Christian Porter says the committee should also report immediately on the Foreign Influence and Transparency Scheme Bill. He argues that both bills must be passed by Parliament prior to the five by-elections on 28 July, to ensure that the outcome of the polls is not affected by the actions of foreign agents. He says the threat of foreign interference has increased in recent months.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, COMMUNIST PARTY (CHINA)

A-G’s swipe at media for opposing spy laws

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Original article by Paul Maley
The Australian – Page: 2 : 28-Mar-18

Attorney-General Christian Porter has criticised the media and other special-interest groups for opposing the Federal Government’s proposed foreign interference and espionage laws. He noted that the introduction of similar laws in the US generally attracted consideration of whether they were in the national interest. Media companies have expressed concern about the potential implications of the proposed laws on journalists, although ASIO has argued that they should not be exempt.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS