Perspective: Foreign interferenceForeign Interference Threat Bigger than Terrorism, Warns Spymaster

Foreign interference and hostile state espionage are a bigger threat to Australia’s security than terrorism, one of the country’s top spy chiefs has warned.

Richard Wood writes for 9News that Duncan Lewis, the outgoing head of Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), identified three challenges security confronting Australians: terrorism, cyber warfare; and foreign interference and espionage.

But the latter was on a “growth trajectory” and is a greater threat than terrorism, he told a Lowy Institute forum in Sydney.

It’s my view that currently, the issue of espionage and foreign interference is by far and away the most serious issue going forward.

Terrorism has never been an existential threat to established states – for weaker states, yes, but for a place like Australia terrorism is not an existential threat to the state.

It is a terrible risk that our populations run and it is a very serious matter which must be addressed every day: the counter-espionage and foreign interference issue, however, is something which is ultimately an existential threat to the state.

The harm from acts of espionage may not present for years or even decades … these sorts of activities are typically quiet, insidious and have a long tail.

Terrorism has plateaued, it is not increasing, it has plateaued and it is at an unacceptably high level. We have attacks continuing. They are regular and they will continue.

Counter-espionage and foreign interference … that is still on a growth trajectory.

Communities and countries are able to interfere in one another’s business now, because you can,” he said. There are conduits through all of those technological advances of globalization: the internet, instant communication … social media, that will allow influence to be exerted remotely.