Former Deputy PM Calls for Action After Beijing Revealed to Be Behind ‘A Team’ Spy Ring

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sits opposite the leader of the opposition, Liberal Party Peter Dutton, in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 16, 2023. (David Gray/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has called on the federal Labor government to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

This comes after reports that the communist regime was behind a spy network that recruited former politicians and government staff.

The Sydney Morning Herald said it had independently verified that the spy unit called the “A-Team,” by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), was connected to a division of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) tasked with infiltrating the Australian government.

Through checking court records and briefings, the media outlet revealed that ASIO uncovered MSS' infiltration of Labor and Coalition parties via interference operations since 2019.

However, it noted that the ASIO had taken a soft stance against the CCP as the agency had been reluctant to publicly name the communist regime as a malicious state actor.

Following the report, Mr. Joyce said there was a need for the government to respond quickly to the threat.

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“There is an active spy or has been within our government, and what we do know is that China is behind it,” he told Today on March 4.

“Australia (must be) as strong as possible as quickly as possible.”

ASIO Boss Warns Against Revealing Traitor Politician

Mr. Joyce’s remarks came after ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess still refused to disclose the identity of a former politician who was said to have sold out Australia and spied for a hostile country despite strong pressure from the public and the political circle.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has raised concerns that ASIO’s decision would cast a shadow on all current and retired politicians across the chamber.

He believed it was unfair for ASIO not to single out the alleged traitor, as 99.9 percent of former MPs were patriotic.

The opposition leader also suspected that the former politician was an ex-Labor member from New South Wales.

Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess appears before a Senate inquiry at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 29, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

In an interview with 9 News’ 60 Minutes program, Mr. Burgess warned that revealing the name of the person would lead to unwanted consequences.

“They [spies] target all parties equally. Individuals who call out names, if they’re doing that for political purposes, I suggest they be very careful because it might come back on their own party,” he said.

“It’s a complex, challenging and changing security environment. It’s not just one country.”

The ASIO boss also stated that his agency had expelled dozens of spies since he took charge while acknowledging that it was common for hostile intelligence services to use threats to target individuals and their families in Australia.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind Mr. Burgess.

During a recent press conference, the prime minister said he had confidence in the ASIO and its director-general.

“The idea that any minister in my government will just go out against the wishes of the ASIO director-general, I find quite extraordinary,” he said.

“I will back our national security agencies. That is their job, and I will back them to do the right thing.”

Mr. Albanese also suggested other politicians follow his example in supporting security agencies.

“I think that one of the things that we need to do as a nation is to build confidence in our agencies, not engage in short-term politics or speculation like some have done,” he said.

“That’s not responsible. I'll act responsibly. I did so as the leader of the opposition and leader of the Labor Party. I do so as prime minister.”