ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess recently revealed that foreign interference is costing Australia an estimated $12.5 billion annually. This espionage threat – from cyber-intrusions to insider recruitment – extends across government, infrastructure, academia and private enterprise. It has prompted urgent calls for stronger protective measures.
While much of the public focus remains on intelligence agencies and cybersecurity, the private security industry plays a crucial — and often under-recognized — role in safeguarding Australia’s assets. Licensed security professionals are increasingly deployed across sensitive sites, corporate environments, and public infrastructure, where vigilance, access control, and situational awareness are frontline defenses against espionage and sabotage.
SPAAL advocates for continued investment in training, compliance, and integrated risk management to ensure private security providers are equipped to meet these evolving challenges. From physical surveillance to data protection protocols, the sector must remain agile and informed.
As espionage tactics grow more sophisticated, collaboration between public and private sectors becomes essential. SPAAL encourages its members to engage with national security briefings, adopt best-practice standards, and foster a culture of proactive threat awareness.
The cost of complacency is high — but with coordinated effort, Australia’s security ecosystem can remain resilient, responsive, and ready.
For more information on the cost of espionage, including resources you can download and use: Cost of Espionage at the ASIO website.