'Be careful': Australia's spy chief urges politicians to avoid 'inflamed language'

ASIO boss Mike Burgess says inflammatory language used by politicians can potentially lead to violence.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general, Mike Burgess, says politicians need to take care with their words as it may generate tensions and violence. Source: AAP

Key Points

• ASIO boss Mike Burgess says inflamed language by politicians can lead to violence.
• He singled out recent comments by Iran's ambassador against Israel.
• Burgess also warned countries friendly to Australia are engaged in foreign interference.

Australia's domestic spy agency boss has warned politicians and officials to be careful with the language they use potentially inflaming violence, describing comments by Iran's ambassador against Israel as "unacceptable" and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce's remarks about "bullets" as "unhelpful".

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess also accused nations "friendly" to Australia of running foreign interference campaigns, in an interview with ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.

"My message is for everyone in the language they use," Burgess said.

"I get robust political debate, that's got to continue as a strong part of society but, just be careful with your language because, again, inflamed language leads to violence."

When asked about Barnaby Joyce urging anti-renewables protesters at a rally to 'load that magazine' and use paper ballots as bullets when voting, Burgess said:

"It's unhelpful when you are using analogies of weapons designed to hurt people".

Burgess mentioned Nationals MP Shadow Minister Barnaby Joyce's recent "bullets" remark as an example of violent language. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

He also singled out comments made by the Iranian ambassador to Australia on social media about "wiping out" of Israelis in Palestine by 2027.

"What a ... terrible example of actually inappropriate, unacceptable language that it can actually drive violence in our society," Burgess said.

'Friendly' nations involved in foreign interference: Burgess

Burgess also said Iran was among a number of countries attempting to "threaten and intimidate" Australians.

"I can think of at least three or four that we've actually actively found involved in foreign interference in Australian diaspora communities," Burgess said in an interview with public broadcaster ABC.

"Some of them would surprise you. Some of them are also our friends," he said.

ASIO boss responds to threat level 'delay'

Australia's terror threat level was raised from 'possible' to 'probable' last week for the first time in a decade.

The raising of the threat level came only 24 hours after the Albanese Government was briefed by ASIO, as the agency was closely monitoring politically motivated extremist ideologies, citing the rise in racial violence in the UK as an example.

Burgess was also questioned about reports that it took the Labor government almost six months to lower the threat level in 2022 after a formal threat assessment.

"When it comes to the lowering of the threat level, I think you'll appreciate there is a big difference in terms of the speed at which you need to communicate that [to the public]," Burgess said.