The Head of Australia’s intelligence agency, ASIO, has publicly explained why the national security threat level is rising. This explanation is important for those working to protect buildings, employees, and visitors.
Mike Burgess, ASIO’s Director-General of Security, said the national terrorism threat level for 2025 is “probable.” This means there is more than a 50% chance of an attack or planning happening within the next year.
“We raised the national security threat level in 2024, and I do not expect it to be lowered soon,” Burgess said.
He described the current situation as facing many overlapping and complex threats. Burgess shared this in his annual threat report to parliamentarians and community leaders.
Looking ahead to 2030, Burgess gave a serious and honest assessment. “It is uncomfortable, but very important. That is why I am releasing parts of this report,” he said. He added that Australia has never faced so many different threats at the same time.
ASIO’s role includes investigating seven key areas of security risks. These are espionage, foreign interference, politically motivated violence (including terrorism), communal violence, sabotage, attacks on Australia’s defense system, and serious border security threats.
Currently, three areas are already critical: espionage, foreign interference, and politically motivated violence. Burgess warned that three more areas are likely to become critical within the next five years.
He pointed out that advances in technology, especially Artificial Intelligence and the increasing amount of personal data online, will help foreign intelligence services with espionage and interference.
