ASIO Chief Warns of Possible Foreign-Backed Assassination in Australia
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has warned that a foreign government could attempt to assassinate a dissident on Australian soil. Speaking at the 2025 Lowy Lecture, he described the threat as both real and imminent.
“We believe there are at least three nations willing and capable of conducting lethal targeting here. It is entirely possible the regimes would try to hide their involvement by hiring criminal cutouts, as Iran did when directing its arson attacks.”
Burgess clarified that he was referring specifically to an anticipated assassination attempt. He underlined the ongoing efforts of ASIO and law enforcement agencies to counter this threat effectively.
“ASIO and our law enforcement partners are acutely alive to this threat and are working around the clock, using all our powers, to protect Australia and Australians.”
Rising Complexity of National Threats
Burgess noted that Australia is experiencing an unprecedented overlap of diverse security challenges, each affecting national stability and trust in different ways.
According to him, Australia is now contending with a combination of social, political, and digital pressures that erode its cohesion. The spread of misinformation and disinformation, alongside political polarisation and societal division, has intensified these issues.
“Many Australians are feeling dispossessed, disaffected, and disenfranchised, with spikes in polarisation and intolerance. Many of the foundations underpinning our security, prosperity, and democracy are being tested.”
- Foreign interference remains a growing concern.
- Social cohesion and trust in democratic institutions are declining.
- Misinformation and conspiracy theories are undermining public confidence.
Implications for National Security
Burgess emphasised that the convergence of external aggression and internal instability poses a complex risk that requires vigilance and unity across all sectors of government and society.
Author’s Summary
Australia faces an increasing risk from foreign-backed assassination plots amid deepening social division and disinformation threats, posing a serious test for its institutions and national security.