Australia has discreetly expelled four spies, reportedly from India, who attempted to access sensitive national information related to defense, politicians, and airport security protocols, according to the national broadcaster ABC. This activity, discovered in 2020, coincided with a period when Canberra and New Delhi were publicly emphasizing strong diplomatic and trade relations.
The spies sought access to sensitive information on Australia’s defense technology and airport security. They also reportedly targeted former and current politicians, the state police service, and the Indian Australian community.
In 2021, Mike Burgess, Australia’s intelligence chief, revealed that a “nest of spies” had been uncovered, without explicitly naming India. As a response, Australia discreetly expelled at least four Indian intelligence agents who had allegedly posed as diplomats. Burgess stated that Australia’s intelligence services confronted the foreign spies and removed them “quietly and professionally.”
“The spies developed targeted relationships with current and former politicians, a foreign embassy, and a state police service,” he said in March 2021. Additionally, the spies monitored their country’s diaspora community and attempted to obtain classified information about Australia’s trade relationships.
The ABC investigation suggested that the expulsion of the suspected spies was kept quiet to avoid public embarrassment for the Narendra Modi government, which has been keen on positioning India as a significant global player. At the time, Burgess mentioned that the nation behind the spy operation was “not from a country in our region” and naming it would be “an unnecessary distraction.”
However, Greens Senator David Shoebridge believed that Australia should have publicly condemned India for its espionage activities. He argued that this would have established an honest baseline for Australia’s relationship with India and reassured the diaspora communities of Australia’s support.
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as quoted by the Washington Post, dismissed the accusations as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.” The ABC noted that the significant number of expelled operatives could place India in the same category as nations like Russia and China, known for breaches of international protocols.
