Overview
- ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told Senate estimates he ordered a snap review by an external reviewer with unfettered access, which reaffirmed ASIO’s 2019 assessment that the Akrams did not intend to engage in violent extremism at that time.
- Burgess said many criticisms of ASIO’s handling were baseless, cautioned against hindsight, and argued the alleged perpetrators “went dark” to evade detection.
- ABC managing director Hugh Marks said ASIO sent its warning to the wrong email address, defended the program’s transparency, and reported no further complaints after the second episode aired.
- ASIO had issued a rare preemptive rebuke of the Four Corners investigation, alleging reliance on an unreliable source who misidentified Naveed Akram and reserving the right to take further action if claims could not be substantiated.
- The December 14 Bondi attack left 15 people dead and dozens injured; Naveed Akram is charged with multiple offences and Sajid Akram was shot dead by police, with a royal commission examining intelligence handling and an initial report due by April.