Aussie spy boss tells pollies to watch their words

ASIO chief Mike Burgess has renewed his call for politicians to watch their words after the domestic intelligence agency raised the terror threat level from possible to probable.

Mr Burgess told Sky News on Tuesday Australia needs to cool down its political debate, saying “there’s a direct correlation between inflamed language, inflamed tension and violence.”

He said everyone has a role to play.

“Politicians have to debate, they have to challenge, they have to disagree,” he said.

“How they do it really does matter because it can generate more heat.”

Mr Burgess, who has previously called for politicians to be mindful of how they say things after the October 7 attack on Israel, said he has since had “conversations in private” with some parliamentarians.

“I’m confident most politicians when they say things in the heat of the political debate don’t mean to do downside, but it’s a consequence of not using your words wisely,” he said.

The national terror threat level was raised for the first time in a decade because of deteriorating social cohesion and a spike in radicalisation among young men.

Unlike 10 years ago when Australia reacted to the threat of transnational terror group Islamic State, people were being radicalised for increasingly complicated and varied reasons, Mr Burgess said alongside the Prime Minister in an address on Monday.

“I want to reassure Australians probable does not mean inevitable and it does not mean there is intelligence about an imminent threat or danger,” Anthony Albanese said.

Building on the Prime Minister’s comment, Mr Burgess made clear the decision did not mean ASIO had intelligence of an immediate attack, but rather it was based on the overall picture.

Intelligence analysts had determined the likelihood of “attack planning” over the next 12 months was higher than 50 per cent, he said.

More to come.