ASIO concerned about 'spontaneous violence' at home, not Hamas, says spy chief

The leader of the national intelligence agency was questioned about whether the war in the Middle East and a link to a well-known terrorist group are cause for concern at home.

ASIO head Mike Burgess says there is no reason to raise the national terror threat. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Key Points

• Head of ASIO Mike Burgess told a Senate hearing the national terrorism threat remains "probable".
• It comes after a Sydney man was buried as a "war hero" by Hezbollah after being killed during an Israeli airstrike.
• Burgess also expressed concern about "spontaneous violence" within Australia's local communities.

The ongoing war in the Middle East and allegations an Australian was fighting for a designated terrorist organisation have not heightened the risk of terrorism at home.

The national terrorism threat remained probable, with intelligence agency ASIO concerned about spontaneous violence, ASIO head Mike Burgess said.

"No, there's no reason you should be concerned," Burgess told a Senate hearing late Monday night when asked about an increased risk at home.

Opposition home affairs spokesperson James Paterson pressed Burgess on whether he could confirm an Australian man claimed by Hezbollah was fighting for the designated terrorist organisation.

The government confirmed two Australian citizens — brothers Ibrahim and Ali Bazzi — were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon before Christmas.

Hezbollah, allied with Hamas, claimed Ali Bazzi as one of its fighters and he was given a military funeral.

"I'll talk to generics: if there is an Australian overseas fighting for an organisation that the Australian government considers a terrorist organisation, that is a potential concern," he said.

"But it really depends on where they direct the energy of their ideology and what they believe.

"If that's not against Australia ... that's not a direct threat to Australia or Australians."

Paterson also quizzed the spy chief on whether continuing protests over the Hamas-Israel war in Australia could lead to escalating violence.

He pointed to an incident where police recommended members of the Jewish community go home during Shabbat prayers due to protests.

While there were strong emotions about what was happening in the Middle East, Australia's current terror threat covered the risk of spontaneous violence, Burgess said.

The ongoing protests across Australia about the war in the Middle East are also a cause of concern, according to ASIO head Mike Burgess. Source: AAP / Mark Evans

There was a difference between spontaneous violence and people who harboured violent ideologies, he said.

"We are concerned about, and continue to be concerned about, spontaneous violence, and when different sides of protests come together, sometimes there is some heat," he said.

"There have been a large number of protests, most of them have been peaceful, some have had situations that you've outlined but that doesn't ... mean we raise the terrorism threat level.

"We focus on people with violent ideology that think that's the answer for their political cause."

Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watt earlier expressed dismay at how the conflict had in his view prevented Australians from seeing people who disagreed with their view as human beings.

"People have been using ideologies across the board to justify some pretty appalling behaviour towards people in our community," he told ABC radio.