Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says politicians need to be mindful of what they say about national security after the head of counter-espionage agency ASIO said the politicisation of security issues was unhelpful.
Ms Andrews this morning announced the listing of further terrorist organisations under the criminal code, including the entirety of Palestinian group Hamas. But the press conference was quickly overtaken with questions about the federal government’s claims a Labor government would “appease” China.
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Former diplomats and the country’s spy chief have raised concerns over the government’s lines, with the head of ASIO Mike Burgess saying the politicisation of national security was “not helpful”.
His comments came after Prime Minister Scott Morrison accused Labor Deputy Leader Richard Marles of being a “Manchurian candidate” as the government ramped up its attacks on Labor over national security.
Ms Andrews said she would not respond or comment on specific issues, saying her national security focus was “at the highest level”.
“I am not going to give commentary at all on any individual, any of my colleagues,” she said after being asked about the Prime Minister’s remarks.
“I am very much focused on the best interests of Australia, and I firmly believe they are best served by me as the Home Affairs Minister.
“We need to be very mindful of what is being said and done, and I am absolutely confident, and I know for a fact that the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Minister for Defence Peter Dutton well always act in Australia’s best interests.”
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has also just said he consulted ASIO before attending the opening of the Chau Chak Wing Museum at Sydney University in late 2020.
It follows reports in News.com.au that Mr Albanese was seated next to the daughter of Chinese billionaire Chau Chak Wing at the event.
Mr Albanese, who is facing attacks from the government for being “soft” on China, told Parliament this afternoon that he attended the event, opened by Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley, as a graduate of the university.
“Today I met with the director-general of ASIO, which I do regularly, and I asked him, was it okay with him … I sought his position, to state to the Parliament that I consulted with the director-general of ASIO before accepting that invitation,” Mr Albanese said.
The federal government has sought to frame the election around national security, law-and-order and borders.
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