Chinese hackers intensify cyber threats on Australia: Spy chief

• Successful attacks could cripple essential services —including banking, transportation, water supply, and power.

Australia’s top intelligence official has sounded a stark warning about the intensifying cyber threat posed by hackers linked to the Chinese government and military, revealing recent probes into the nation’s telecommunications network and critical infrastructure that could threaten the economy with sabotage.

Mike Burgess, Director-General of Security at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), told business leaders in Melbourne that espionage—including cyber intrusions—cost Australia an estimated A$12.5 billion ($8.1 billion) last year. This figure includes the loss of A\2 billion in trade secrets and intellectual property.

Burgess pinpointed the activities of Chinese hacking groups “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon,” identifying them as part of sophisticated operations directed by Chinese government intelligence and military agencies.

He noted that Salt Typhoon has targeted both US and Australian telecommunications systems as part of its broader espionage campaign. Meanwhile, Volt Typhoon is believed to seek disruptive capabilities, having compromised US critical infrastructure as a prelude to potential sabotage.

Concrete risks for Australia

“We have seen Chinese hackers probing our critical infrastructure as well,” Burgess cautioned, warning that successful cyberattacks could cripple essential services across the community—including banking, transportation, water supply, and power.

“These are not hypotheticals—foreign governments have elite teams investigating these possibilities right now,” he said, raising concerns about future scenarios such as economically motivated industrial sabotage or efforts to cause social panic during Australia’s elections.

China’s embassy in Australia has not publicly responded to the latest allegations and routinely denies involvement in hacking activities. Burgess also disclosed that Chinese officials have repeatedly lodged complaints with the Australian government and private sector following his public remarks about cyber risks from China—a campaign he said would not deter him from exposing security threats.