A Russian-born married couple in Australia have today been charged with allegedly accessing military material for sharing with Russia.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said a female private in the Australian army, aged 40, and her 62-year-old husband were arrested at their Brisbane home yesterday.
“They have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment,” he said.
He said the woman – an ADF information systems technician – had taken non-disclosed travel to Russia while on leave from the army.
The AFP allege the couple worked together to access Australian Defence Force material that related to Australia’s national security interests.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess, speaking alongside Kershaw, said the arrests came after a “lengthy and complex investigation” by law enforcement agencies.
It is the first time charges have been laid under new laws introduced six years ago.
Kershaw said the arrests were the culmination of an operation by the counter-foreign interference task force, which includes AFP, ASIO and other federal agencies.
”We allege the woman was undertaking non-declared travel to Russia, whilst she was on long-term leave from the Australian Defence Force,” he said.
“We allege that whilst she was in Russia, she instructed her husband, who remained in Australia, on how to log into her official work account from their Brisbane home.
“We allege her husband would access requested material and would send to his wife in Russia. We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities.
“Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation.”
The couple have lived in Australia for more than 10 years.
The woman obtained Australian citizenship in 2016 and he became a citizen four years later.
Burgess answered reporters’ questions about the vetting procedures for people working in the ADF and other sensitive government branches.
“I respectfully suggest that vetting is not a solution that stops problems because it depends on what you say ‘How is it missed?’
“If you meet the requirements to get a security clearance, you will get one but that doesn’t mean to say the security journey stops at this point.
“In this case, because of defence and security awareness, ASIO and the task force and the AFP were able to intervene and control this operation.”
Burgess said spying was not a “quaint” notion and could have “catastrophic real-world consequences”.
“Espionage is real. Multiple countries are seeking to steal Australia’s secrets.”
The couple will appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
