Two Russian-born Australian citizens have been charged with espionage, marking the first time charges have been laid under laws introduced in 2018.
The pair — a married couple — were arrested as part of a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Commission (ASIO).
Police allege a 40-year-old woman, who is an Australian Defence Force (ADF) army private, and a 62-year-old man were working together to obtain sensitive information to share with Russian authorities.
They were arrested at their home in Everton Park in Brisbane on Thursday, and were expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
The AFP alleges the woman undertook non-declared travel to Russia while on long-term leave from the ADF.
While there, it is alleged she instructed the man on how to access her official work account and specific information to send to her private email account.
“They have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment,” AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw told reporters on Friday.
Kershaw alleged the pair had been living in Australia for 10 years. The woman obtained citizenship in 2016 and the man in 2020, he said.
Asked if they had retained their Russian citizenship, Kershaw said: “They had Russian passports”.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the charges reinforce the “espionage threat is real” in Australia.
“Espionage is not some quaint cold war notion. Espionage damages our economy and degrades our strategic advantage,” Burgess said.
“It can have catastrophic real-world consequences.”
It is the first time espionage charges have been laid since federal laws were introduced in 2018.