The director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, has issued a stark warning about the potential for foreign governments to carry out assassinations on Australian soil. Speaking at the 2025 Lowy Lecture, Burgess revealed that ASIO believes “at least three” nations are not only willing but also capable of executing such plots.
In a speech that highlighted the growing threats to Australia’s national security, Burgess detailed how a foreign intelligence agency attempted to use an Australian citizen to clandestinely transmit information abroad. He further warned of hostile foreign governments targeting Australia’s social cohesion, critical infrastructure, and defense secrets.
Foreign Interference and Espionage Threats
The announcement comes as ASIO uncovers attempts by foreign spies to recruit Australians for intelligence purposes. Burgess noted that these efforts include obtaining sensitive information about Australia’s economy, critical minerals, and the AUKUS submarine program, valued at $368 billion.
“Reflecting ASIO’s success in making Australia an unwelcome environment for espionage, the foreign intelligence service arranged for an Australian to travel by plane and then boat to a third country for a face-to-face meeting,” Burgess explained. “The spies wanted to hand over a list of their intelligence requirements — the people and things they wanted spied on.”
“We believe there are at least three nations willing and capable of conducting lethal targeting here,” Burgess stated in his Lowy Institute address.
Exploiting Social Fault Lines
Burgess highlighted the tactics used by some authoritarian regimes to exploit divisions within countries they consider hostile. He cited Iran’s foreign interference plot, which involved hiring local criminals to carry out arson attacks on Jewish businesses and places of worship, as an example of such “high-harm operations.”
He also pointed to Russia’s use of disinformation to sow discord and amplify distrust within Western democracies. “Regimes are operating in a security grey zone … using non-traditional tools to interfere in decision-making, promote discord, amplify distrust and spread false narratives,” Burgess said.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Social Cohesion
Artificial intelligence is accelerating the fraying of Australia’s social fabric, according to Burgess. He warned that disinformation, conspiracy theories, and deliberate foreign manipulation are driving this trend. “Community cohesion remains a great blessing, but it is under siege, under threat, under attack. This is not an accident,” he emphasized.
Burgess accused Russian-backed operatives of deliberately pushing online narratives to “try to hijack and inflame legitimate debate” and “justify the invasion of Ukraine.” He noted that these operatives use social media to spread polarizing commentary on issues like anti-immigration protests and pro-Palestinian marches.
Extremist Groups and Technological Manipulation
ASIO has identified three groups responsible for undermining social cohesion: “The aggrieved, the opportunistic, and the cunning.” The first group consists of individuals driven by grievance and frustration; the second includes extremist organizations exploiting social fractures; and the third comprises nation-states deliberately working to inflame and divide societies.
Burgess warned that extremist groups are becoming more sophisticated in manipulating public anger and exploiting protests to recruit and radicalize followers. He singled out the far-right National Socialist Network and the religious organization Hizb ut Tahrir as examples of groups using public events and online rhetoric to “test the limits of legality” while fueling division.
“In terms of social cohesion, the internet is the greatest incubator of grievance narratives and conspiracy theories,” Burgess said. “While the internet incubates, social media accelerates. And while the internet incubates and social media accelerates, artificial intelligence exacerbates.”
ASIO’s Resilience and Public Responsibility
Despite the grave warnings, Burgess expressed confidence in Australia’s resilience and the vigilance of its security agencies. “Please note I said, ‘attempt to assassinate,'” he clarified. “ASIO and our law enforcement partners are acutely alive to this threat and are working around the clock, using all our powers, to protect Australia and Australians.”
He urged Australians to resist polarization and take an active role in safeguarding the nation’s stability. “You cannot spy your way to greater cohesion or arrest your way to fewer grievances,” he remarked. “Every one of us has a role to play. Our words matter, our decisions matter, our actions matter.”
Burgess concluded on a note of guarded optimism, stating, “While the threats and challenges facing us are significant, they are not insurmountable. We should not be defeatist or insecure about our security. We can and should have confidence in our ability to respond.”
