Two more Chinese nationals charged with foreign interference over alleged information-collecting plot

Australia's federal and intelligence officers have charged two more Chinese nationals with foreign interference after they allegedly collected information about a Buddhist association in Canberra.

A 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested earlier today following further investigations into an alleged plot to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta as directed by the Public Security Bureau of China.

The pair are accused of working with a woman, a Chinese national and Australian permanent resident, who was charged in August.

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They have been charged with one count each of reckless foreign interference and are facing 15 years' imprisonment.

They are the fourth and fifth people charged with foreign interference since new laws were introduced in 2018.

AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said Australia is not immune to foreign interference, and these arrests would not prevent more attempts by foreign groups to target diaspora communities.

"The AFP cannot be everywhere at all times, and we rely on information from the public to supplement our own intelligence gathering and investigative efforts," he said.

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ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said foreign interference remains one of the country's greatest security concerns.

"A complex, challenging and changing security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded," he said.

"Multiple foreign regimes are monitoring, harassing and intimidating members of our diaspora communities.

"This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and cannot be tolerated."

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