Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has declared that foreign interference poses a "significant threat" to Australia in the wake of recent revelations that Indian intelligence operatives were kicked out of Australia in 2020.
It's been revealed they were kicked out after trying to steal sensitive defence projects and airport security, as well as classified information on Australia's trade relationships.
The ABC has confirmed that India's government was operating the "nest of spies" that the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, first revealed in 2021.
At the time, Mr Burgess said the spies were caught trying to obtain classified information about Australia's airports, defence projects, and trade relationships.
Mr Dutton was home affairs minister and a key member of Cabinet's national security committee at the time of the expulsions.
While the opposition leader said he couldn't comment on the specific incident, he stressed that: "The director-general of ASIO has been clear over a number of public outings that we do face a very significant threat from foreign interference.
"It can come from many sources and the resources that ASIO has to defeat that are necessary."
Neither Prime Minister Anthony Albanese nor Foreign Minister Penny Wong would comment on the expulsions, saying they wouldn't be drawn on intelligence matters.
Ms Wong said at a "level of principle", Australia took a "consistent" approach to foreign interference and human rights interests.
"I think you would have heard me and other ministers on many occasions assert the importance of our democratic principles, assert the importance of ensuring that we maintain the resilience of our democracy, including in the face of any suggestion of foreign interference," Senator Wong said.
India calls report 'speculative and irresponsible'
News of the expulsions comes as concerns grow in several Western countries about allegations that India orchestrated the assassination of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, as well as a separate (and foiled) alleged plot to murder Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.
The Washington Post reported yesterday that several Western security agencies had moved to "root out" agents from India's overseas intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), who were monitoring local Sikh communities.
A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs responded by calling the report "speculative and irresponsible."
"The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter," the spokesperson said.
"There is an ongoing investigation of the high-level committee set up by the government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others."
Australia-India relationship 'important'
Australia remains intent on building much closer strategic, economic, and military ties with New Delhi, despite persistent anxieties in Canberra about India's trajectory under India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Both Mr Dutton and multiple government frontbenchers stressed that India was an indispensable partner.
"Issues can be dealt with, and the director-general as he's highlighted has been able to deal with a particular issue," Mr Dutton said.
"India is an important partner of the Quad, they're an increasingly important partner in the region because they share the same democratic values we do in Australia."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australia had a "good relationship" with India.
"It's an important economic relationship, it's become closer in recent years as a consequence of efforts on both sides, and that's a good thing," he told ABC's News Breakfast.
