Defence to tighten policy after China pilot poach plot

Dominic Giannini | February 15, 2023

The defence department will work on tightening its secrecy clauses after reports Western pilots have been approached by China to train its military. 

Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday he’d asked his department to review its policies to stop former soldiers and personnel sharing classified information with foreign powers.

This had led to a recommendation aimed at “tightening up policies within defence” including through new legislation, he said, although he didn’t reveal further details.

Mr Marles also refused to confirm if any personnel had been approached by agents of Beijing after reports a South African intermediary had worked to poach Australian, British and New Zealand pilots to provide military training.

“This is obviously a concerning set of circumstances and we need to make sure we have the most robust policies in place,” he told Sydney radio station 2GB.

Mr Marles said all defence force members already knew what was expected of them but he wanted to ensure there was no doubt about their obligations after leaving the military.

Defence department deputy secretary Celia Perkins said the review also made recommendations about defence training and employment policies, expanding outreach to former members and support channels. 

She also denied the review was kicked off in response to a particular incident “but rather how we were positioned to respond” after media reporting of a US pilot facing extradition in Australia. 

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said transparency was critical to prevent national secrets being bought off.

“More transparency would help everyone to understand the scope of the problem and also prevent further ADF personnel being targeted by foreign powers,” he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. 

The former SAS soldier said he’d support stronger legislation to safeguard national security but there also needed to be a greater focus on education. 

“There’s obviously a legal framework but there’s also a moral emphasis here,” he said.

“We want everyone doing the right thing and education is a critical way of making sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Hastie said the defence department needed to know where people with access to classified information were employed.

“Someone like myself or someone from submarine capability, you certainly want to make sure we’re aware of where they are and who they’re working for because this is how our national secrets can be passed on.”

But Ms Perkins said the review didn’t look at tracking former security clearance holders.

“I don’t believe it’s appropriate under Australian systems of government to track people after they leave their employment,” she said.

“People are free to live their lives once they’ve handed back their obligations.

“Our focus will be on … where people have had access to some of our most sensitive knowledge or training, we reinforce those obligations they carry through life and we build some stronger linkages.”

Ms Perkins said the minister had accepted all the recommendations and the department was working with the attorney-general to develop legislation.

The laws would cover what information could not be shared as well as the Commonwealth’s ability to respond to any breaches.

Changes are set to be implemented throughout 2023.

The former coalition government was warned of the possibility of adversaries approaching Australian military personnel in June 2021, when now Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was defence minister. 

Ms Perkins said she couldn’t publicly reveal specific responses but agreed the response was proportionate.