ASIO Rebukes Public Broadcaster’s Bondi Terror Report, Flags ‘Unreliable’ Source

The agency in a public statement has warned that it will pursue ‘further action’ should unverified allegations be aired.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation ASIO Director General Mike Burgess prepearing for his annual speech at ASIO headquarters in Canberra, on March 17, 2021. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australia’s intelligence agency has taken the rare step of publicly rebuking—and pre-empting—the national broadcaster ahead of a Four Corners episode on the Bondi Beach terror massacre.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) posted its full written response to the program’s interview questions to it online, accusing the taxpayer-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) of relying on “uncorroborated claims” from a supposed “single, unreliable and disgruntled source.”