Aussie soldier charged with espionage

An Australian Defence Force army private and her husband have become the first Australians to be charged with espionage after allegedly working together to leak state secrets to Russia.

The Australian Federal Police will allege the couple worked together to access ADF material related to Australia’s national security interests.

The woman was allegedly undertaking non-declared travel to Russia while on leave from the ADF, where she instructed her husband — who remained in Australia — to log into her work account from their Brisbane home, AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw announced Friday morning.

“We allege her husband would access requested material and would send it to his wife in Russia. We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities,” Mr Kershaw said.

“Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation.”

The pair are the first Australians to be charged with espionage since new laws were introduced in 2018.

The AFP arrested the couple Thursday morning at their Everton Park home in Brisbane.

They have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence and will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

Mr Kershaw said “no significant compromise” has been identified following the AFP’s disruption of the alleged crime, but warned Australians against committing espionage crimes.

“Espionage is not a victimless crime and it is certainly growing. It has the potential to impact on Australia’s sovereignty, safety and way of life,” he said.

“My direct warning is we know who you are, you are likely already exposed. You will get a knock on your door and it will be either from someone wearing this patch on their shoulder, or from one of our other national security agencies.

“You will face embarrassment and potentially a very lengthy term of imprisonment.”

More to come.