Australian MP recruited by foreign spy network, claims intelligence chief

According to a report by The Age newspaper in Australia, an Australian MP has been recruited by a foreign spy network. The report claims that the intelligence chief of the country's foreign affairs department, Peter Varghese, made this revelation during a speech at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney.

The report states that the MP in question is believed to be part of a network of spies called 'A Team', which has identified Australia as its top priority target. The A Team is said to be a highly skilled and well-connected group of spies who operate out of Beijing, China.

It is not clear which foreign spy network the MP was recruited by, but it is believed that they are part of a larger effort by China to gather intelligence on Australia's political and economic systems. The report states that China has been increasingly aggressive in its efforts to collect information on Australia, including hacking into government agencies and stealing sensitive data.

The revelation of the MP's recruitment comes at a time when tensions between Australia and China are high. The two countries have been engaged in a trade war, with Australia imposing tariffs on Chinese goods and China retaliating with tariffs on Australian exports. There have also been concerns about China's growing military presence in the South China Sea, which is close to Australia's territorial waters.

The report states that the A Team has been operating out of Beijing for several years and has been involved in a range of activities, including espionage, cyber attacks, and political interference. The group is believed to be highly skilled and well-connected, with members who have worked in government agencies, think tanks, and private sector companies.

It is not clear what the MP's role was within the A Team, but it is believed that they were involved in gathering intelligence on Australian politics and economics. The report states that the MP has since left the foreign spy network and is no longer a threat to Australia's security.