Defence Recruitment Processes Brought Into Question Following Espionage Charges

The recent arrest of an Australian soldier and her husband on espionage charges has brought Australian Defence Force recruitment processes into question.

Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopters prepare to land at Townsville, during Exercise Brolga Run 23, in Australia, in May 10, 2023. LCPL Riley Blennerhassett/ADF via AP

The effectiveness of army vetting processes has been called into question after an Australian army private with access to classified files was arrested and charged with espionage on July 11.

Kira Korlev a 40-year-old soldier who worked as an information systems technician was arrested with her 62-year-old husband Igor Korlev over an alleged spying scheme targeted at the Defence Department.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian Defence Force is constantly monitoring their methods and making improvements.

“[The arrests] prove ... authorities are doing their job, and I have every faith in our national security agencies like I have every faith in our Australian Defence Force,” he said, according to AAP.

However, the arrest comes alongside an Australian National Audit Office report (pdf), released on July 11, which found that a recently introduced government vetting system wasn’t entirely effective.

“Defence’s governance, oversight, and reporting arrangements were not implemented effectively and did not support informed, risk-based decision-making,” the report said of the vetting system.

Police officers arrest a suspect of an espionage case under Operation Burgazada in Brisbane, Australia. Courtesy of Australian Federal Police

Processes Beyond Vetting

Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said vetting was not the single solution to security issues.

“If you meet the requirements to get a security clearance, you’ll get a security clearance, but that doesn’t mean to say the security journey stops at this point,” he told reporters.

“We will work with defence to work through what is the teachable moment here if there are any.”

Meanwhile, the Defence Department said that it took all breaches of security seriously.

“In response to serious allegations, it is general practice to suspend an ADF member from service, including immediately cancelling the member’s access to Defence bases and ICT systems,” it said.

“Defence continues to work with the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force.”

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director General Mike Burgess poses for a portrait ahead of his annual threat assessment speech at ASIO headquarters in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 28, 2024. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Espionage Charges

The Russian-born couple arrived in Australia around 10 years ago before becoming citizens.

The police are investigating whether their alleged ties to Russia predate their arrival.

Ms. Korlev attracted the attention of the authorities after allegedly undertaking nondeclared travel to Russia whilst she was on long-term leave in 2023.

The police allege that she instructed her husband to access defence information through her computer from their home in Australia and send it to her in Russia to provide it to Russian authorities.

The couple remain in police custody since neither applied for bail.

The alleged espionage could be related to Australian support for Ukraine, which has reached $1.3 billion (US$880 million) since the conflict began, or secrets passed under the AUKUS agreement.

The AUKUS agreement is a security partnership between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom that involves helping Australia obtain nuclear submarines.

It is unknown whether sensitive material was passed on to Russia, but investigations are ongoing. If information is found to have been exchanged the couple’s charges will be upgraded from preparing espionage to outright espionage.

U.S. President Joe Biden (C) speaks alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) at a press conference during the AUKUS summit at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif., on March 13, 2023. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Impacts on Australian Military Partnerships

Concern that the recent alleged espionage would impact sensitive partnerships such as AUKUS was deterred by Mr. Albanese.

“Our allies that we work very closely with, particularly our Five Eyes partners, will take comfort in the fact that we have caught these people,” Mr. Albanese said.

The Five Eye countries include Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

It comes after the federal government announced it would begin allowing permanent residents from Five Eye countries and the Pacific Islands to join the Australian military.

AAP and Alfred Bui contributed to this report.