Oz spy agency monitored ABC journalists

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation spied on journalists working for the ABC during the 1960s and 1970s, it has emerged.

A review of newly declassified ASIO files conducted by the SBS Dateline programme has revealed that the ASIO had moles within the ABC spying on their journalist colleagues. The period during which the spying took place was a time of intense speculation and concern over Communist sympathisers within Australian public bodies and it is understood that this concern extended to the ABC.

The files have revealed that ASIO agents reported the results of their monitoring to both the head of the spy agency and the general manager of the ABC.

"It's important to understand that the ASIO Act of 1979 outlines its functions and its functions deal with counter-terrorism, counter-espionage, politically motivated violence," the Australian Attorney-General Philip Ruddock told ABC News today. "t has to direct its activities to that work and it plays no role in relation to media monitoring or in any way vetting people in the Australian community other than in accordance with its charter."

The ABC's current managing director, Mark Scott, said that there was currently no contact between his office and the ASIO.