My Concerns About Adelaide Naval Security Vulnerability Vindicated

Looks like my June 9, 2019 article "Security Observations: Osborne Naval Shipyard & Edinburgh RAAF Base, Adelaide", at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2019/06/osborne-naval-shipyard-adelaide-security.html has gained some traction in Australian Government defence and security intelligence circles.

On June 9, 2019 in part I wrote:

"There is a boom in Osborne's construction and upgrades of Australia's: Hobart class destroyers; Arafura class offshore patrol vessels; future Hunter class frigates; and Collins and future Attack class submarines. Osborne has therefore become a high value intelligence hotspot."

"Hence, in response, predictable growth:

-  in size and number of consulates-general (basically mini "embassies" - perhaps housing
   "diplomats", defence and press attaches who collect military intelligence in Adelaide). China's and
    Russia's consulates-general?" 

-  in numbers of foreign engineering/scientific academics and students capable of collecting intel

   (see US 30/8/2020 experience) and establishing lasting sensitive friendships at Adelaide 
   universities, and

-  of course, harder to detect non-official-cover "illegals" (not only Russians and Australian

   "moles"."

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So it is encouraging the Australian Government has now officially recognised that the threat of increased Chinese diplomatic/intelligence presence in Adelaide has made Australian/foreign naval ship/submarine secrets in Adelaide more vulnerable. 

See Australia's government owned ABC News where Defence Correspondent Andrew Greene reports “Defence Department warns that 'highly active' spies pose 'extreme threat' to Australia's shipbuilding plan” August 16, 2020 at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-16/defence-warns-active-foreign-spies-threaten-shipbuilding-plans/12562536 which sates in part:

“Foreign agents are now "highly active" in plots to steal Australian military secrets, with Defence warning the threat to the nation's multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding projects is considered "extreme”.”

...“Beijing privately identified as leading culprit”

“Defence has declined to nominate which foreign actors it believes are responsible for targeting Australia's naval shipbuilding industry but, privately, national security figures believe the Chinese Government is the main culprit.

The growing concerns about Chinese espionage are prompting politicians from across the political divide to call for the closure of the sizeable Chinese consulate in South Australia, or a reduction in the number of diplomats based there.

In 2016, Beijing opened a new Consulate-General office in the Adelaide suburb of Findon for around 10 staff, located on a site that also includes the headquarters for the Overseas Chinese Association.

"It hasn't escaped me that the consulate was stood up in the same year that a significant naval shipbuilding program was announced by the Coalition Government," Senator Patrick said.

His concerns about the large Chinese diplomatic presence in a state which hosts considerable defence industry and space research is shared by members of both the Federal Government and Opposition.

"It's clear that the numbers in the Adelaide consulate are overweight — they should be reduced, preferably by negotiation," South Australian Labor MP Nick Champion said.

Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says ASIO records show similar tactics were used by Soviet spies during the Cold War to target military research in Australia.

"It comes as no surprise that Beijing has overcompensated the 'diplomatic' requirement to serve in Adelaide," Senator Fierravanti-Wells told the ABC.

"If ASIO and law enforcement agencies deem laws have been broken, then the 'diplomats' should be expelled."...”

SEE WHOLE ABC ARTICLE

Pete