FWIW.
2019
Australia's domestic intelligence agency warns of foreign spying efforts amid revelations the east African nation of Rwanda has a shadowy network of spies silencing political dissent inside Queensland suburbs.
www.abc.net.au
''Professor John Blaxland from the Australian National University said many countries had a track record of trying to use their nationals living in Australia to sway decisions made by government agencies, corporations and education institutions in their favour.
He said this was achieved by planting spies in diplomatic missions but could also involve blackmailing or coercing refugees and migrants into becoming informers.
"There are broad principles that apply not just to Rwanda, but a range of countries, including China," Professor Blaxland said.
"Refugees who flee often have family connections remaining with [their] home country.
"The government can choose to exercise that power over the minds of the residents in Australia concerning safety and wellbeing of relatives back home, and that can be a very difficult pressure to resist."
Senior intelligence figures told the ABC that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Malaysia were known to monitor their diaspora living in Australia, while also seeking to silence those who might speak out against their former governments.
In several instances, one source said, the Australian government of the day has used diplomatic channels to make known its concern, with a view to stopping the intimidation.
The intelligence community refer to these people recruited by fully trained foreign spies as "co-optees" or agents.
According to another international intelligence expert, there are hundreds of "co-optees" operating in Australia, and many have been blackmailed, threatened or coerced into joining.''
''The expert said some agents would seek to gain political gossip from the press clubs, parliaments and diplomatic functions, but their main job was to recruit agents and get recruit agents to get valuable information.
This can happen through a front group, or so-called "false flag" operation, where they purport to be something they're not — like a charity or community group, he said.''