What is foreign interference?

Foreign interference can be understood as activity carried out by, or on behalf of, a foreign actor, that is coercive, corrupting, deceptive or clandestine, and contrary to Australia’s sovereignty, values and national interests. Foreign interference occurs when foreign powers attempt to secretly and improperly interfere in Australian society to advance their strategic, political, military, social or economic goals.

Foreign interference should be distinguished from the open and transparent actions of foreign states seeking to influence deliberations of importance to them. Foreign interference occurs in secret and is hostile to Australia’s national interests, whereas foreign influence activity is open and transparent and respects our people, society and systems.

Foreign interference is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.

Why is foreign interference a concern?

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has identified espionage and foreign interference as having supplanted terrorism as Australia’s principal security concern. Foreign interference attempts are occurring at all levels of government, in all states and territories, including South Australia. Foreign actors, including foreign intelligence services, are creating and pursuing opportunities to interfere with Australian decision makers across a range of sectors including:

  • democratic institutions
  • education and research
  • media and communications
  • culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • critical infrastructure.

Foreign actors—whether government officials, intelligence officers or their proxies—will seek contacts and develop relationships to exert influence and pursue their objectives. Through this influence, foreign adversaries have the potential to undermine Australia’s sovereignty and system of government and adversely affect South Australia's people,  information and assets.

Potential warning signs of foreign interference

Foreign interference can play out in many ways. Some of the warning signs to look out for include:

  • contact with or approaches from people, including foreign nationals, which are suspicious, unusual, persistent or ongoing, including approaches on social media or networking sites
  • persons or groups, regardless of nationality, seeking to obtain information they do not need to know in order to do their job
  • attempts to reduce transparency, including requests to use less open or non-corporate forms of communication, reduce public oversight of engagements or establish contact outside official meetings
  • suggested or implied exchanging of favours
  • donations of money or gifts
  • attempts to conceal relationships or interactions
  • requests, suggestions or pressure to influence others to take a particular position.

If you have seen, heard or experienced something suspicious, no matter how small, see below for how to report this information.

Reporting potential foreign interference

If you believe you have information of possible foreign interference activities or have seen or heard something suspicious that may need investigation by security agencies, contact the National Security Hotline:

Phone: 1800 1234 00

(+61) 1300 123 401 (from outside Australia)

Email: hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au​

SMS: 0429 771 822

If you are a South Australian Government employee, a security clearance holder, or you work in the defence, academic, or research industry, you may have additional reporting obligations. To report contact that seems suspicious, unusual or persistent, or is ongoing:

To report a significant security incident as a South Australian Government employee, refer to our page https://www.security.sa.gov.au/reporting-a-security-incident and review your reporting obligations in Table 6 of GOVSEC1: Security Governance.

Further information