Australian Spy Chief Shifted Focus from Counterterrorism Before Hanukkah Attack

Mike Burgess, head of Australia's ASIO, testified that resources were shifted from counterterrorism to espionage and foreign interference investigations prior to the deadly Hanukkah attack in Sydney on December 14, 2025, which resulted in 15 fatalities. The National Terrorism Threat Level was lowered from 'probable' to 'possible' in November 2022, following the defeat of the Islamic State. Burgess noted that while terrorism remained a priority, the agency focused more on foreign threats as antisemitic incidents surged. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, ASIO observed a rise in antisemitic behavior, prompting a reassessment of the terrorism threat level back to 'probable' in August 2024. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism is set to report before the first anniversary of the mass shooting, which is the worst in Australia since 1996.

Key Points: • ASIO shifted resources from counterterrorism to espionage before the Hanukkah attack. • The National Terrorism Threat Level was lowered in November 2022 due to reduced activity. • The Hanukkah attack resulted in 15 deaths and was linked to rising antisemitic incidents.