Asio chief reveals 16 terror plots have been foiled since Bondi attack
Sarah Basford Canales
Australia’s domestic spy agency says it has disrupted 16 terrorist threats in the nine months since the Bondi attack, including an antisemitic attack, a plot to kill Muslims and a violent racist allegedly found with weapons and ammunition.
The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation’s director general, Mike Burgess, outlined the “evolving threat” in a speech today on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.
The Asio chief revealed his organisation had disrupted 16 terror plans since December where the “threat was considered serious but not necessarily imminent”. Burgess previously revealed in June the figure was 14, representing a minor increase. Since 2014, it has foiled 33 major terrorism plots.
Burgess said Sunni violent extremism represented the majority of Asio’s counter-terrorism caseload but that it was “too simplistic to assume there is a single terrorism threat or a most likely terrorist threat as we did in the aftermath of 9/11”.
He said the threats included an individual allegedly inspired by extreme right-wing ideology, others inspired by extreme left-wing ideologies and others inspired by “mixed and seemingly incompatible beliefs”, including one person who allegedly wanted to blow up a school who was allegedly inspired by ideological and extreme Christian beliefs.
Burgess said:
double quotation markThese dynamics make the contemporary terrorism environment different – and in some ways, more difficult – than a quarter of a century ago … Spikes in grievance, intolerance and polarisation are degrading our security environment and making politically motivated violence more likely.
Asio’s director general Mike Burgess. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersShare
Updated at 22.01 EDT
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Molly Ticehurst’s killer sentenced to 28 years in jail
Molly Ticehurst’s ex-boyfriend will spend at least 20 years inhas been sentenced to 28 years in jail for her senseless and brutal murder, which was revenge for her reporting allegations of sexual assault to police.
Daniel Billings was sentenced in the Orange Supreme Court today by Justice Natalie Adams, who imposed a non-parole period of 20 years.
Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare worker, was found dead in her pyjamas at her home at Forbes, in the state’s central west, in the early hours of 22 April 2024.
Justice Natalie Adams found Billings’ offending was in the high range of seriousness, given he murdered her in the exact way he had long threatened to do.
double quotation markIt must have been absolutely terrifying for Ms Ticehurst to die knowing her worst fears were realised.
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ShareAsio chief reveals 16 terror plots have been foiled since Bondi attackSarah Basford Canales
Australia’s domestic spy agency says it has disrupted 16 terrorist threats in the nine months since the Bondi attack, including an antisemitic attack, a plot to kill Muslims and a violent racist allegedly found with weapons and ammunition.
The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation’s director general, Mike Burgess, outlined the “evolving threat” in a speech today on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.
The Asio chief revealed his organisation had disrupted 16 terror plans since December where the “threat was considered serious but not necessarily imminent”. Burgess previously revealed in June the figure was 14, representing a minor increase. Since 2014, it has foiled 33 major terrorism plots.
Burgess said Sunni violent extremism represented the majority of Asio’s counter-terrorism caseload but that it was “too simplistic to assume there is a single terrorism threat or a most likely terrorist threat as we did in the aftermath of 9/11”.
He said the threats included an individual allegedly inspired by extreme right-wing ideology, others inspired by extreme left-wing ideologies and others inspired by “mixed and seemingly incompatible beliefs”, including one person who allegedly wanted to blow up a school who was allegedly inspired by ideological and extreme Christian beliefs.
Burgess said:
double quotation markThese dynamics make the contemporary terrorism environment different – and in some ways, more difficult – than a quarter of a century ago … Spikes in grievance, intolerance and polarisation are degrading our security environment and making politically motivated violence more likely.
Asio’s director general Mike Burgess. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersShare
Updated at 22.01 EDT
Matt Canavan ‘welcomes’ communication between Barnaby Joyce and Andrew Hastie
Matt Canavan spoke to News24 earlier, saying he “welcomes” Barnaby Joyce reaching out to Andrew Hastie about the One Nation “traitor” cartoon.
Canavan began by condemning One Nation’s bids to “distance” themselves from the cartoon, noting the video was authorised and published by the party.
double quotation markI thought that was pretty weak.
The Nationals leader said he appreciated that Joyce had explained to Hastie that he didn’t know about the cartoon.
double quotation markI welcome Barnaby’s apology, it’s a matter for Andrew if he accepts it – but I think Pauline should do the same.
(In a statement, Hastie said he did accept it, but characterised it as an “explanation” rather than an apology.)
Canavan said he personally welcomed criticism but said that politicians did not need to “devolve” into this sort of language.
The interview took somewhat of an odd turn when Cavanan also referred to himself as someone with “communist sympathies” in his youth.
Updated at 22.23 EDT
Luca Ittimani
Albanese is under fire over a grants program that benefited his local golf club. Were any rules broken?
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The government claims it has broken no rules and delivered its election promises by the standard method but transparency advocates have said the system needs reform and have drawn comparisons to the notorious “sports rorts” affair.
What went wrong – and is this sports rorts all over again?
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Marrickville Golf Club. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The GuardianShare
Marles says Hanson should take Hastie cartoon down and apologise
Back to defence minister Richard Marles, who made some other comments this morning about the One Nation video.
Speaking on Nine, Marles said the Australia’s veteran community would have been affected by the One Nation video’s use of the word “traitor”.
double quotation markOne of the issues here is to use that word in respect of any veteran is taken on by the entire veterans community … it’s distasteful. It’s inappropriate. It should come down and Pauline Hanson should apologise.
Defence minister Richard Marles. Photograph: WPA/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 21.16 EDT
Pauline Hanson not backing away from Hastie cartoon, suggesting a ‘chill pill’ for critics
The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, is standing by the cartoon that labelled Andrew Hastie a “traitor” despite growing condemnation from Labor, the Greens, Liberals and the crossbench.
The video is currently pinned to the top of Hanson’s X feed, and she said on Wednesday she would not apologise and the uproar was “a storm in a teacup as far as I’m concerned”. She has denied ever calling Hastie a traitor.
Last night, Hanson posted a photo of Jacqui Lambie and herself in the Senate, alongside a post that read “I think everyone just needs to take a chill pill”.
A furious Lambie told ABC radio yesterday that Hanson was a “bloody coward”.
The One Nation leader posted again this morning on X to express her “thanks” to Hastie that the “cartoons make the news again”, sharing the “ten best episodes” of the animation Please Explain.
As we reported earlier, Hastie told Guardian Australia he accepted Barnaby Joyce’s explanation that he didn’t know about the cartoon. He said he now knows that Hanson “is the only lying coward”.
Updated at 21.08 EDT
Carroll says NFL game in Victoria a moment in the state’s history
The Victoria premier, Ben Carroll, spruiked the NFL game at the MCG this morning, saying it was an exciting and historic day for the state.
double quotation markThe atmosphere, the weather for Melbourne, everything has just come on so perfectly. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this day.
This event helps cement Victoria as the major events capital, not only of Australia, but of the world.
It’s going to be one of those events that people look back in history and say, ‘Where were you?’ Or ‘I was there’.
LA Rams players warm up at the MCG. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShare
Updated at 20.30 EDT
Catie McLeod
Woolworths increased prices of at least four ‘family staples’ during ‘Price Freeze’ promotion
Woolworths raised prices for popular items – including a 33% mark up on chicken fillets – within days of promising to freeze prices on 300 “family staples” for three months to help customers with the cost of living.
Pricing data, compiled by comparison website CW Scanner and provided to Guardian Australia, shows the supermarket chain increasing the prices of at least four key products after starting the three-month “Price Freeze” promotion on 1 May.
Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
The supermarket nearly doubled the price of a 420g can of Woolworths “Mexican Style 3 Bean Mix” during the promotional period – from 60c to $1 on 17 June – the data shows. Woolworths dropped the price back to 60c on 17 August
Woolworths has justified the increases because it regarded the previous prices as promotional prices, rather than the “standard shelf price” for each product.
A Woolworths spokesperson said that the end of a temporary promotion did not represent a shelf price increase.
Read more:
The NFL is set to hold its first regular-season game in Australia today, a contest between the San Francisco 49ers and the LA Rams.
The showdown will take place at Melbourne’s MCG this morning.
Fans have been turning up in droves. The game starts at 10.35am and you can watch it on Netflix.
A fan arrives at the MCG. Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPAA fan of the LA Rams. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPSpectators arrive in 49ers gear. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesLA Rams fans. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShare
Updated at 19.34 EDT