Aust. S.I.S. urged to step up bugging

Press, 16 March 1981, Page 9

Aust. S.I.S. urged to step up bugging

NZPA Sydney The Royal Commission into Australia’s intelligence services is reported to have recommended that Australian spies' should open more stations' abroad. and bug me:: foreign, embassies at home. • The Royal Commission, headed by Mr Justice Hope, recommended in ..an unpublished report that Australia should infiltrate the' Russian K.G.8.; according to the “National Times” weekly newspaper. ' •■ •' The J commission also recommended that Government departments should be used more often as “cover” and the Austr..lian Secret Intelligence Service should use businesses in a much expanded way, the newspaper said. Mr Justice Hope had reported that A.S.I.S. existed

to conduct espionage against foreign countries and, to do ; it successfully, it must be ; prepared to infringe the • laws of those countries. A.S.I.S. spies for Australia overseas while the Austra- . liah Security Intelligence Organisation - looks after inter- , nal security. , The-Royal Commission re- • ported in 1977. but most of . its recommendations have remained secret since then,. > The “National Times” said A.S.LS. activities have been so secret that its very existi ence was denied for many years after its foundation in ; 1952. Mr Justice Hope — now a judge on the New South Wales Court of Appeals — recommended an aggressive ■ expansion of A.S.I.S and the Prime Minister (Mr Malcolm Fraser) readily agreed, the ! paper said.