Richard Marles points to new national security laws following a pilot investigation in China
Defense Secretary Richard Marles has not confirmed that China has attempted to poach Australian Air Force pilots to train its own military.
However, Mr Marles pointed to stricter laws for people exposed to the nation’s security secrets following an investigation into allegations Beijing had leveled at Australian Defense Force personnel.
Speaking to 2GB Radio, Mr Marles said the Albanian government will tighten its legislation to ensure that disclosure of classified information – including to foreign powers – is prosecuted.
He said the new national security legislation would ensure that there was “absolutely no doubt” about people’s responsibilities before, during and after the handling of Australia’s military secrets.
The crackdown is one of the recommendations made by the Australian Federal Police and ASIO following their review of how well Department of Defense policies and procedures protect classified information.
Mr Marles commissioned the inquiry in November, tasking AFP and the country’s top spy agency with investigating allegations that several former members of the Australian Armed Forces had been approached to train the Chinese military.
Asked three times on 2GB on Wednesday whether the review had found evidence Australian pilots had been approached by China, Mr Marles said only that he could not discuss the matter publicly.
He said the ASIO-AFP investigation found that defense secrets are already subject to “very robust” policies and laws, but nonetheless made several recommendations to strengthen those safeguards.
“This is obviously a worrying set of circumstances and we need to make sure we have the most robust policies,” he said.
Mr Marles said every member of the Defense knows what is expected of them when it comes to protecting classified information.
“But the report recommended that we develop legislation to dispel any doubts about the full range of secrets that need to be protected,” he said.
“And yes, we will develop this legislation.”
Mr Marles received another important defense review this week, with former defense chief Angus Houston presenting the final report of the Defense Strategic Review on Tuesday.
The classified review, which will be considered by the federal government in the coming weeks, is expected to recommend a significant increase in Australia’s military capabilities.
Mr Marles told Parliament the review – against the backdrop of the most complex strategic landscape the country has faced since the end of the Second World War – is the most important reassessment of Australia’s strategic stance in the past 35 years.
