Tue 26 Aug
This blog is now closed.
Mike Burgess says he can’t comment too far as some matters are either in front of the courts or may get there
What we’ve said is there’s a direct connection – the IRGC are directing through a series of cut-outs for people in Australia to undertake the crimes.
….The embassy was not involved. No Iranian diplomats here in Australia were involved in this. It’s directed by the IRGC through a series of overseas cut-outs to falters to coordinators.
Tony Burke is now up:
I want to thank ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and all the state and territory police forces for the work that led to today’s announcement. I know the significant amount of work and analytical rigor that goes into ASIO assessments.
This is an unprecedented attack on our society, it’s aimed at creating fear, stoking internal divisions, and eroding social cohesion. It’s true that no-one was injured in these attacks, it is not true that no-one was harmed. The community of the Adass Israel synagogue was harmed, the community that shopped at the Lewis continental kitchen was harmed, the Jewish community was harmed, other communities that were blamed were harmed, and simply Australia was attacked and Australia was harmed.
There’s anti-Semitism in Australia. It’s real, it’s debilitating, yet this attack was driven by anti-Semitism that originated in Iran, that said, nothing changes the fact that it was an anti-Semitic attack and nothing changes the fact the impact is identical.
For some anti-Semitic elements in Australia, the attack has emboldened them. Any anti-Semitic attack, in fact, any attack based in any dehumanising bigotry is an attack on Australia.
This extraordinary attack that occurred on our soil means we have to adapt our response to the changing threat. That’s why the government intends to introduce a new regime under the criminal code, so that we can list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
This sends the strongest possible signal that this conduct has reached a new and totally unacceptable low. The existing regime designed decades ago was not intended to deal with the threats we are now facing. Australia stands together, these attempts at division will fail, and they already have.
We stand together in unity and strength. The anti-Semitism that drove this attack cannot be allowed to fall blame to Australians of Iranian heritage. That is exactly the kind of disunity and division that these attacks were designed to create, and we reject that. And stand together.
Penny Wong is now speaking:
Even before today, the Albanese government had taken stronger action on Iran than any previous Australian government and we have long known that Iran and its proxies try to destabilise countries in our region and beyond.
The Director-General has outlined the conclusions of ASIO. Iran has sought to undermine the cohesion of our community, they have tried to divide the Australian community, and they have done so with acts of aggression that not only sought to terrify Australians, but put Australia’s – Australian lives in danger. Keeping Australians safe is our number one priority.
There is no doubt that these extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil have crossed a line. And that’s why we have declared Iran’s ambassador to Australia persona non grata, as well as three other Iranian officials and they’ll have seven days to leave the country.
This is the first time in the postwar period that Australia has expelled an ambassador. Iran’s actions are completely unacceptable.
We’ll continue to maintain some diplomatic lines to advance the interests of Australians. In relation to our embassy in Iran, Australia had an embassy in Iran since 1968. At that time and since that time it’s never been an endorsement of the regime, it’s been a channel to advocate for our interests and for our people.
However, the government has now taken the step to withdraw our ambassador to Iran and we have suspended the operations of our embassy in Iran for the safety of our officials and Australians’ broader security.
Our officials are in a third country. I thank the DFAT officers and their families for their service and for their fortitude.
Since 2020, Australians have been advised not to travel to Iran, our limited ability to provide consular assistance is limited. I know many Australians have family connections in Iran, but I urge any Australian who may be considering travelling to Iran please do not do so. If you’re an Australian in Iran, leave now if it is safe to do so.
This has been a distressing time for many Australians. I again thank ASIO and AFP for their efforts. The Albanese government has been so determined through this period to keep our community united. We have sought to lower the temperature in Australia, and to not reproduce the conflict in the Middle East in Australia.
I again urge others to consider whether their actions help those who want to divide our nation. We all want the killing in the Middle East to stop, and we want to retain our character as a nation that welcomes people of different race, religion, views, united by respect for each other’s humanity and our collective desire to live in peace. We will always safeguard our communities and protect Australians from all forms of hate.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess:
In this year’s annual threat assessment, I warned Australia’s complex, challenging and changing security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded.
Dynamic because we’re confronting an increasing number of threats. Diverse because some nation states are using criminal proxies are using politically motivated violence.
Degraded because authoritarian regimes are more willing to engage in reckless actions. All three of these characteristics apply in this case.
For the past 10 months, anti-Semitism has been one of ASIO’s most pressing priorities, involving the full use of its capabilities and powers. We have investigate dozens of incidents. ASIO now assesses the Iranian government directed at least two and likely more attacks on Jewish interests in Australia. Our painstaking investigation uncovered and unpicked the links between the alleged crimes and the commanders in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC.
The IRGC used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement. This is the kind of boundary blurring I warned about earlier this year. It’s important to understand that ASIO is both a collecting of intelligence and an assessor of intelligence. Form assessments are not done quickly or taken lightly. Our analysts carefully weight and wait every piece of intelligence.
Their conclusions are clear. ASIO is still investigating possible Iranian involvement in a number of other attacks, but I want to stress we do not believe the regime is responsible for every act of anti-Semitism in Australia.
It goes without saying that Iran’s actions are unacceptable. They put lives at risk, they terrified the community and they tore at our social fabric. Iran and its proxies lit the matches and fanned the flames. I want to assure all Australians that ASIO and our law enforcement partners take these matters extremely seriously. We do not just have the right to be safe, you have the right to feel safe.
Anthony Albanese has now turned to why the press conference was called.
Since the terrible events of October 7 2023, we have witnessed a number of appalling anti-Semitic attacks against Australia’s Jewish community.
I made it clear these sorts of incidents have no place in Australia. And I wanted ASIO and the AFP to investigate as a priority. ASIO has gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion, the Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks. Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks on the Lewis continental kitchen in Sydney on October 20 last year, and the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne.
ASIO assesses it’s likely Iran directed further attacks as well. These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.
They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. The Australian government is taking strong and decisive action in response. We informed the Iranian ambassador to Australia he would be expelled.
We have suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, and all our diplomats are now safe in a third country. I can also announce the government will legislate to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a terrorist organisation.
The Australian people want two things, they want killing in the Middle East to stop, and they don’t want conflict in the Middle East brought here. Iran has sought to do just that.
They have sought to harm and terrorise Jewish Australians and sow hatred and division in our community. The actions of my government send a clear message, a message to all Australians we stand against anti-Semitism, and we stand against violence. And a message to nations like Iran who seek to interfere in our country, that your aggression will not be tolerated.
Anthony Albanese opens with the concerns for police officers in Victoria:
Very concerned for some of the police officers who are involved. Our thoughts are with the police for the work they do, each and every day. The men and women who wear our uniform, wear the uniform of the police take risks each and every day. The Victorian police commissioner will be providing updates during the afternoon as more facts that are – that are able to be released become clear.
Oh goody – Murray Watt wants to work with the Coalition to pass the environmental protection laws, so that is sure to be both amazing for the environment and protection.
Will Sussan Ley work with Murray Watt? Why yes!
We are willing to work with the government on sensible forms to environmental approvals because we know the dead weight loss and the drain this is having with projects being an average of 500 days for some gas projects only heard of this morning. It is interesting and again an example of the failure of this productivity roundtable. What has come up with a report that I commissioned as environment minister and delivered by Graham Samuel and following that report I went to the then opposition and talked about how we may constructively use that report, the Samuel report, as a basis for improving and streamlining our environmental laws so that businesses could have certainty and the environment could be protected and they say no, they have reheated it for the Roundtable and are talking about again as if it is a big new thing.
They need to do is get their act together and actually get the department working effectively now and doing the job that it should which is to approve projects within the statutory time frames.
That is not happening from what I’m told but I am prepared to continue to talk with the government about anything that will help solve the delays and bring back certainty and investment.
And on the fight in the Coalition party room over the push for a debate to settle the net zero position, Sussan Ley says:
Let me remind everyone about the energy working group which is working through everything with respect to energy policy. Energy policy will be underpinned by two fundamentals. We will have reliable, affordable power for households and families. We have to get that right. And we will play our role in reducing emissions internationally.
Both fundamentals is something every Australian would agree with.
Two things the government has not got right. The energy working group led by Dan Tehan has made remarks about that today in the media, it is important because it is bringing together experts, bringing together the party room and it is discussing issues that are incredibly important to Australians. He mentioned too, the 2035 targets and legislation that may be coming before the Parliament. We look forward to that. That will give us an opportunity to say to the government to demonstrate what these targets will cost, how you will actually deliver on promises and what it will mean Australia’s manufacturing businesses and Australian households, I mentioned the energy costs are going up by 30%. I did not mention something that business and industry knows well and that is that small and medium businesses are closing down because of the cost of energy. That point in time will give us that opportunity to highlight to Australians and demand from this government what is actually costing? Phil? One at a time.
Here is what Sussan Ley has to say on the home affairs bill:
Is this legislation posting loopholes in a previous bills that were also supposed to close loopholes, what on earth is going on. Right now my Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and shadow Attorney-General are receiving their appropriate briefing that almost simultaneously the legislation is being introduced into the Parliament. This is not the way that the Prime Minister and his ministers should conduct policy around critical issues of national security. What it certainly tells me is that they have not got it right, they are not going to get it right unless they actually consult us and do this properly. Rushed secretive and chaotic.
There is a bit of a vibe to the parliament today. The Caucus briefing seemed to finish a lot earlier than usual.
Sussan Ley is holding a press conference on the legislation that Tony Burke introduced today and she is not happy that there was not an earlier briefing. That is apparently happening now.
Mike Burgess, the ASIO director has been spotted in the building and now Anthony Albanese has called a press conference for the next 15 minutes.
My waters are watering.