Politics · Australia · 3 hrs ago
Tribunal orders public hearings in Australian spy records case
Australia’s tribunal has ordered parts of a hearing to be held in public in a case seeking records linked to alleged spying on Timor-Leste.
Former senator Rex Patrick is asking for documents about a 2004 mission, which became a scandal years later.
The alleged bugging was said to have aimed to give Australia an advantage in oil and gas negotiations with Timor-Leste, which became independent in 2002.
Those negotiations covered control of the Greater Sunrise gasfields, whose resources are estimated to be worth more than $50bn.
The government and Australia’s intelligence service have refused to confirm or deny whether the bugging happened or whether relevant documents exist, citing national security.
The tribunal ruled that officials can give unclassified testimony in open hearings, while parts involving top-secret details will stay closed.
The full hearing is due in late November, with officials from the intelligence service and foreign affairs department expected to testify.
Australia’s Administrative Review Tribunal has ordered that unclassified parts of a hearing over records linked to an alleged spy operation be held in public.
The case concerns whether Australian spies bugged Timor-Leste during oil and gas negotiations in 2004.
Former senator Rex Patrick is seeking cabinet documents about the operation from the National Archives of Australia.
The government and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service say they cannot confirm or deny whether the records exist.
Some parts of the hearing will remain closed so top-secret details can be discussed.
- Who
- Former senator Rex Patrick is seeking the records. The Australian government and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service are opposing public disclosure.
- What
- The tribunal ordered unclassified parts of the hearing to be held in public.
- When
- The ruling was made on Friday. The full hearing is due in late November.
- Where
- Australia. The negotiations concerned control of the Timor Sea and the Greater Sunrise gasfields.
- Why
- Patrick wants records related to whether Australian spies bugged Timor-Leste during oil and gas negotiations.
Australian government
Rex Patrick
Disclosure
Australian government
The government says it cannot confirm or deny whether relevant documents exist.
Rex Patrick
Patrick is seeking cabinet documents from 2004 to learn more about the affair.
Hearing access
Australian government
The government argued that even unclassified parts of the hearing should be closed to reduce the risk of accidental disclosure.
Rex Patrick
Patrick’s campaign seeks greater public scrutiny; the tribunal ruled that unclassified parts must be heard in public.
Timor-Leste officially gained independence from Indonesia.
The alleged spy operation took place, and Patrick’s records request concerns cabinet documents from that year.
The tribunal held a preliminary hearing on whether parts of the case should remain closed.
The tribunal ruled that unclassified parts of the three-day hearing must be held in public.
The full case is due to be heard, with testimony from officials including Asis deputy director general Ewan McMillan and Dfat deputy secretary Michelle Chan.
- Records requested
- 2004 cabinet documents
- Agency
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service (Asis)
- Tribunal ruling
- Unclassified parts of the hearing must be public
- Hearing length
- Three days
- Expected hearing
- Late November
- Gasfields
- Greater Sunrise, estimated to hold resources worth more than $50bn
1 source
What people are saying
most open secret in the history of Australian spying
I’m not, frankly, beyond making a mistake.
very high