Australia's spy chief warns of foreign hacker threat

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report: Australia’s Spy Chief Warns of Foreign Hacker Threat

Date: November 12, 2025
Host: William Lee Adams (BBC World Service)
Notable Guests:

• Nick Marsh (BBC Singapore Correspondent)
• Paul Nija (BBC Reporter, Senegal)

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Episode Overview

This episode focuses on heightened cybersecurity concerns in Australia, with the nation’s spy chief warning of a significant and growing threat from foreign-backed hackers, particularly groups allegedly tied to China. The episode also briefly covers Apple’s removal of gay dating apps from its China app store, Foxconn’s strong financial results, and the socioeconomic impact of a major natural gas platform on Senegalese fishermen.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Australia’s Spy Chief Mike Burgess on Foreign Hacker Threats

[00:55 – 03:19]

• Main Point:
  Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s intelligence service (ASIO), delivered a strong warning to business leaders about “high-impact sabotage” from foreign hackers, primarily groups linked to China.
• Sectors Targeted:
  Attempts to infiltrate transport, telecommunications, water, and energy networks have been observed.

“No one truly appreciates...how disruptive and how devastating these attacks can be to a country and its economy.”
— Nick Marsh relaying Burgess’s words [01:32]

• Hacker Groups Identified:
  • Salt Typhoon: Focused on cyber-espionage.
  • Volt Typhoon: Specializes in disruption and sabotage.
• Previous Incidents:
  Salt Typhoon involved in a major US telecoms hack that was both financially and logistically disruptive.
• Economic Impact:
  • Estimated cost to Australia: $8 billion between 2023 and 2024
  • $2 billion in trade secrets and intellectual property stolen in a single year.

“He said about $2 billion worth of trade secrets and IP were stolen from Australian companies in just one year.”
— Nick Marsh [02:28]

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2. China's Response

[03:02 – 03:19]

• The Chinese government denies the allegations, calling them false and provocative.
• Official Statement:
  China urged Australian officials to cease making "irresponsible remarks".

“They said that they hope Australian officials will stop making irresponsible remarks. That’s their exact words.”
— Nick Marsh [03:05]

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3. Other Global Economic Updates

[03:19 – 04:27]

• Apple Removes Gay Dating Apps in China:
  Apple pulled Blued and Finka from the Chinese app store, citing compliance with local regulations, raising concerns among LGBTQ+ communities.
• Foxconn’s Strong Earnings:
  World’s largest contract electronics maker reports a 17% rise in Q3 profit, driven by AI server demand.
• UK FTSE 100 Index:
  Hit a new record, approaching the 10,000-point threshold.

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4. Senegal’s Fishermen and the Offshore Gas Platform

[04:27 – 07:21]

• Issue:
  BP’s new natural gas platform off Senegal’s coast, built on a natural reef, has restricted fishing access, impacting the local economy.
• Fishermen’s Perspective:
  Catches have declined sharply, and promised artificial reefs have not materialized as expected.

“We are frustrated. Because before from noon we were satisfied with the catch made. But now we can stay until 4 p.m. twiddling our thumbs without fish.”
— Gora Fowle, fisherman [05:38]

• BP’s Response:
  Says artificial reefs are under construction and will be completed by year-end. Defends the chosen site based on technical assessment.
• Community Distrust:
  Locals report broken promises and fear for the sustainability of marine life and their livelihoods.
• Added Pressure:
  A recent gas leak at sea has heightened concerns.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “No one truly appreciates...how disruptive and how devastating these attacks can be to a country and its economy.”
  — Nick Marsh, quoting Mike Burgess [01:32]

• “He said about $2 billion worth of trade secrets and IP were stolen from Australian companies in just one year.”
  — Nick Marsh [02:28]

• “We are frustrated. Because before from noon we were satisfied with the catch made. But now we can stay until 4 p.m. twiddling our thumbs without fish.”
  — Gora Fowle, Senegalese fisherman [05:38]

• “When they came in 2019, they told people, we are going to build you eight artificial reefs. Nothing has been done. It’s been six years.”
  — Nala Diop, local fishing association spokesperson [06:14]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Australia’s Spy Chief on Cyber Threats: [00:55 – 03:19]
• China’s Response: [03:05 – 03:19]
• Apple & Foxconn Updates: [03:19 – 04:27]
• Senegal Gas Platform Report: [04:27 – 07:21]

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Tone & Takeaway

The tone is urgent yet factual, highlighting tangible threats to national security, global business, and local communities. The episode draws a line from high-level geopolitics (cybersecurity, trade secrets theft) to on-the-ground impacts (economic uncertainty in Senegal). Listeners are left with a sense of the interconnectedness and fragility of today’s economic and technological systems.

Transcript

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[William Lee Adams]

Australia's spy chief Warns on the Threat from Foreign hackers Live from the UK this is the Marketplace Morning Report from the BBC World Service. I'm William Le Adams. Good morning. Australia is increasingly vulnerable to high impact sabotage from hackers backed by China. That's the warning from Australia's spy chief, Mike Burgess. He told business leaders in Melbourne that there had been multiple attempts to penetrate transport, telecommunications, water and energy networks. Let's cross over to the BBC's Nick Marsh in Singapore. Nick, hello.

[Nick Marsh]

Hi, William.

[William Lee Adams]

So some pretty strong accusations there from Australia's head of intelligence. What's behind them?

[Nick Marsh]

Well, we've heard similar kinds of accusations already, haven't we, from spy chiefs in countries like Britain and the United States. He says that no one truly appreciates, in his words, how disruptive and how devastating these attacks can be to a country and its economy. And he spoke about one nation. No prizes for guessing which his words, not mine. He said one nation was consistently probing Australia's critical infrastructures, looking for vulnerabilities. And he specifically mentioned two hacking groups, one called Salt Typhoon and another called Volt Typhoon. He says they work for the Chinese government. Salt Typhoon is considered to be a group of hackers that SPY and Volt Typhoon look more at disrupting and sabotaging systems.

[William Lee Adams]

Do we have any idea how much espionage has cost Australia?

[Nick Marsh]

So Mike Burgess said $8 billion between 2023 and 2024. He said about $2 billion worth of trade secrets and IP intellectual property were stolen from Australian companies in just one year. So you can see how there's also a lot of money at stake. Salt Typhoon, they were behind that massive series of telecoms hacks. I don't know if you remember in the United States a couple of years ago that was very disruptive, you know, both financially logistical standpoint as well.

[William Lee Adams]

Has China's government responded to these allegations?

[Nick Marsh]

China's basically saying that the statements spread false narratives and provoke confrontation. And they said that they hope Australian officials will stop making irresponsible remarks. That's their exact words.

[William Lee Adams]

We will leave it there. Nick, thanks for joining us on Marketplace. Pleasure, thank you Staying with China and Apple has confirmed that it has removed two of the country's most popular gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its app store. Apple says it was following orders from authorities and was following the laws of the countries in which it operates. The move has raised concerns amongst the LGBT community in the country. The BBC has contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington and the companies behind both apps for comment. Let's do the numbers. Taiwan's Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, beat forecasts with a 17% rise in third quarter profit. That was driven by surging demand for AI servers. And the FTSE 100 in the UK hit a new record gaining 0.3% as it approached the 10,000 point mark. A multi billion dollar natural gas platform off the coast of the West African nation of Senegal promised to bring economic prosperity, but fishermen there say the development has caused disruption and unemployment. The BBC's Paul Nija reports.

[Paul Nija]

In this once busy fish Market in St. Louis, the bustle is gradually fading away. Locals say it's because fishing, the main economic activity of the more than 250,000 people who live here, is on the decline. To find out what's changed, I'm hopping on a canoe and accompanying local fishermen to the sea. 10 kilometers offshore, I'm struck by the sight of a giant liquefied natural gas platform run by the British multinational oil and Gas Company BP and its partners. 25 year old fisherman Gora Fowle tells me access to the platform built on the natural reef where they mostly got their fish is restricted. BP says safety zones around infrastructure are standard practice to protect people and assets. After nearly an hour of fishing within a 500 meter limit, fowl's catch is nothing to be proud of. We are frustrated because before from noon we were satisfied with the catch made. But now we can stay until 4pm twiddling our thumbs without fish. The fisherman has brought me to a place on the sea which he says BP plans to erect an artificial reef to attract fish. According to him and several other fishermen, I've spoken to the area is highly unfavourable because it lies just four kilometres away from the coastline. After spending time at sea, we return to land to meet with representatives of the local fishermen's association. The spokesperson Nala Diop tells me they don't believe in BP's promise to build the artificial reef. When they came in 2019, they told people, we are going to build you eight artificial reefs. Nothing has been done. It's been six years. However, in a statement to the BBC, BP said it is building an artificial reef complex with 10 clusters within added that work is already underway as the reef is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Regarding concerns about the site chosen to host the reef complex, the multinational said technical assessment concluded that a cluster of reef pyramids in one location allows more effective management and protection of that reef. But uncertainty is growing and the community believes the entire supply chain is reeling from the impact of the scarcity of fish to bp. Though concerns about Senegal's fishing stocks predate the gas project, another fear is that marine life could become endangered. Following a gas leak witnessed in the sea last February. BP said it acted in a swift and transparent manner when the incident happened. BP has already begun exporting liquefied natural gas. Unsure though the people of St. Louis now wonder what the future holds.

[William Lee Adams]

That was Paul Nija reporting from Senegal. There and in the uk I'm William Lee Adams with the Marketplace Morning Report.

[Amy Scott]

Imagine a future where chocolate and coffee are rare and exciting, expensive, where cheap nutritional staples like corn and wheat are threatened. Sounds unpleasant, doesn't it? Well, we could be heading there if we don't recognize that the climate crisis is also a food crisis.

[William Lee Adams]

I've seen yields drop because of drought and believe me, boy, have I seen them drop.

[Amy Scott]

We have had dry spells that have lasted years. I'm Amy Scott. This season on How We Survive, we investigate how the climate crisis our most vital food systems and how scientists are racing to develop alternatives that will shape the future of food. Listen to this season of How We Survive on your favorite podcast. Apparently.