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.

The logo of the ABC adorns the main entrance to the ABC building located at Ultimo in Sydney, Australia on June 5, 2019. AAP Image/David Gray

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.”