Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) boss Mike Burgess fronted a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra, saying he is "not aware" of any Chinese spy balloons over Australia.
Look back on Monday's updates as they happened in our blog.
Key events
Live updates
We'll wrap up our live coverage here
By Jessica Riga
Thank you for joining us today as we live blogged ASIO boss Mike Burgess's appearance at Senate Estimates.
You can catch up on Monday's developments below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest news. Bye for now!
What's the latest on those flying objects, anyway?
By Jessica Riga
You'd be forgiving for losing track of the amount of flying objects making the news recently.
This morning the US military shot down another flying object over Lake Huron near the United States-Canadian border.
It's the fourth such interception by American fighters this month.
The United States has no indication that the object posed a military threat or had surveillance capabilities.
Meanwhile, Canadian investigators are hunting for the wreckage of a flying object that was shot down by a US jet over Yukon territory on Saturday.
North America has been on high alert for aerial intrusions following the appearance of a white, eye-catching Chinese balloon over American skies earlier this month.
You're keen to know more about any Chinese spy balloons over Australia
By Jessica Riga
Does this mean there has not been any?
- Bruce Le Grew
Thanks for your question, Bruce.
I've put it to our defence correspondent Andrew Greene:
As Defence Minister Richard Marles said in Washington recently, Australia has found no evidence of Chinese spy balloons over Australia.
Military sources tell me it's highly unlikely given Australia is in Southern hemisphere, Earth's rotation, wind patterns much different here and launch-site problems given our geography and isolation.
Let's unpack that estimates hearing
By Jessica Riga
While Mike Burgess's appearance was pretty quick by Senate Estimates standards, he was still pressed on a range of topics.
The head of ASIO said he rejected criticism from some Muslim groups who object to the use of the term "religiously motivated extremism."
ASIO shifted its definition of extremist groups in 2021, categorising them as either "religiously motivated" or "ideologically motivated".
And that's it for Mike Burgess
By Jessica Riga
A very brief Senate Estimates hearing for the ASIO boss, who couldn't comment on a lot of questions.
Burgess asked about firearms
By Jessica Riga
Independent Sentor David Pocock poses a few questions about firearms.
When asked if he considers a National Firearms Registry a priority, ASIO boss Mike Burgess agrees, but says other departments will be able to comment further on the matter.
Extremist groups didn't see 'bumper crop' of new recruits during pandemic
By Jessica Riga
Here's a quick update from our foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic:
Mike Burgess says while right wing extremism grew rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic hit — fuelled in part by conspiracy theorists, but that the threat has now "moderated" slightly.
At its peak nationalist extremist groups occupied about half the agencies counter terror workload, comparable to the workload it faces monitoring threats from religious extremists.
That figure has dropped now, and Mr Burgess says it's only about 30% if ASIO's workload when it comes to the terrorism threat.
He also tells the committee that nationalist extremist groups tried to exploit the pandemic to recruit new members, but they didn't gain a "bumper" crop of new recruits.
Burgess asked about CCP
By Jessica Riga
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has quoted this part of Mike Burgess's opening address before posing his next question:
"Australia is the target of sophisticated and persistent espionage and foreign interference activities, from a range of hostile foreign intelligence services."
Senator Roberts then asks:
"Is there a Chinese Communist Party contact point in Sydney?"
Burgess replies:
"I'm not aware of that in the context of that media reporting."
Burgess says "we had a very productive last year" removing foreign espionage threats from Australia.
Burgess on terrorism
By Jessica Riga
ASIO boss Mike Burgess is now being asked about the threat of terrorism in Australia.
He says the "most likely" threat to Australia is not groups but a "small number of individuals who go to violence with little to no warning."
He added the COVID-19 pandemic did not yield a "bumper crop" of new recruits for extremist groups.
ASIO boss not aware of any Chinese spy balloons over Australia
By Jessica Riga
The Senate estimate committee asks if ASIO is aware of any similar devices over Australia.
ASIO chief Mike Burgess says he can't comment in detail but he does say that spy balloon are "not the principle means" by which people are spying on Australia.
ASIO chief describes Australia's security outlook as 'complex, challenging and changing'
By Jessica Riga
ASIO boss Mike Burgess is delivering his opening statement.
He calls Australia's security outlook as "complex, challenging and changing."
He describes foreign interference activity as "an attack on our way of life."
As for ASIO's decision to downgrade Australia's terror threat level last year, Burgess says "the threats to life will always be a priority."
The Estimates committee thanks him for his "brief" opening statement.
It's time!
By Jessica Riga
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief, Mike Burgess, is now fronting the Senate Estimates hearing.
Who is Mike Burgess?
By Jessica Riga
Mike Burgess has been the Director-General of Security in charge of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) since 2019.
Before this, Burgess was director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).
What's it like inside ASIO?
By Jessica Riga
Our political reporter Stephanie Borys gained access to one of the most heavily guarded buildings in Australia back in 2020.
At the time, she noted Director-General Mike Burgess was "on a mission to bring ASIO out of the shadows — at least in part."
"Flanked by security guards, he leads the ABC to the spy agency's basement, offering first-of-its-kind access to the workshops where devices are made in a bid to keep an eye on suspected terrorists and foreign spies."
You can take a tour for yourself in the link below.
What are estimates committees?
By Jessica Riga
While we wait for the head of ASIO to front the committee, let's talk about what Senate Estimates are and why they happen.
To quote the Australian Parliament House website:
Senate estimates hearings allow senators to scrutinise how the executive government is spending taxpayers' money.
The hearings are called 'estimates' because they examine what the government estimates it will collect and spend in the financial year – 1 July to 30 June.
Senate Estimates resumes
By Jessica Riga
After a morning tea break, Senate Estimate proceedings have returned.
But right now we're still hearing from Brendan Moon, the Coordinator General for the National Emergency Management Agency.
ASIO boss Mike Burgess is due up next, so stay tuned.
Where can I watch the Senate Estimates hearing?
By Jessica Riga
Right here on the Australian Parliament House website, of course.
You'll see a few live streams to pick from. The one you're looking for is the third one in the list called: Senate, Legal & Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee.
Good morning
By Jessica Riga
Welcome to our live coverage of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's (ASIO) appearance at Senate Estimates.
Proceedings are due to begin at 10:15am AEDT (9:15am AEST) so we'll bring you the latest updates as they happen.
