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5 Dec, 2013

Australian intelligence watchdog accused of failing to act on claims of East Timor bugging – Sydney Morning Herald

The former senior spy who blew the whistle on alleged Australian bugging of East Timor’s government took his case to the intelligence watchdog but it did not investigate and advised him to get a lawyer if he wanted to take the matter further.

Lawyer and former ACT attorney-general Bernard Collaery – whose office was raided on Monday by ASIO along with the home of the former Australian Secret Intelligence Service officer – revealed the unsuccessful attempt to get an official inquiry as East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao lambasted the federal government.

The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security oversees the intelligence community but is poorly resourced and has been criticised for not following up many complaints.

Read the rest: Australian intelligence watchdog accused of failing to act on claims of East Timor bugging.