N.Z. Told Of Aust, Spy Network 13 Years Later (Press, 31 July 1989)
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Summary: N.Z. Told Of Aust, Spy Network 13 Years Later (Press, 31 July 1989)
A new book by Australian journalists Brian Toohey and William Pinwill claims that New Zealand was not officially informed about the existence of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) until 1965, 13 years after its establishment in 1952. The revelations are detailed in their book "Oyster: The Story of the Asis," recently launched in Melbourne. The book portrays ASIS unfavourably, highlighting its lack of awareness regarding pivotal Asian events such as Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965, the communist victories in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the 1986 "People’s Power" revolution in the Philippines. The authors assert that New Zealand's Prime Minister at the time, Sir Keith Holyoake, was informed of ASIS only during a briefing with a senior New Zealand intelligence official, which alarmed Australian officials. The book notes that ASIS operated on a strict "need to know" protocol, limiting knowledge of its existence to avoid unauthorized disclosures to political leaders. This secrecy persisted even though New Zealand had close intelligence ties with the United States, British, and Southeast Asian agencies. In 1968, the New Zealand Government permitted its citizens to be recruited as ASIS agents, provided that any potential risks to New Zealand's reputation from these individuals being compromised were assessed. The arrangement meant that while the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had ceased providing intelligence to New Zealand due to the country’s anti-nuclear stance, the CIA still received intelligence from ASIS, which could include information gathered by New Zealanders. Additionally, the book makes several other notable claims including that a bank with ties to the CIA opened offices in New Zealand shortly before the Labour Party, known for its anti-nuclear policies, came into power in 1984. The bank, Bishop, Baldwin, Rewald Dillingham and Wong, later faced scandal and collapse. Further allegations include that Australian spies operated in Asia under a public relations firm's cover in the late 1960s through the early 1970s, an ASIS officer was compromised by Indonesian intelligence in the 1980s, and ASIS attempted to support a failed separatist movement in Irian Jaya with a poorly executed operation. The book also claims that an ASIS officer had procured prostitutes for visiting Australian politicians, over A$3 million was spent annually on bribing foreign contacts, and a training exercise at the Melbourne Sheraton Hotel in 1983 resulted in a chaotic incident where trainees mistakenly terrorised hotel staff. Overall, "Oyster: The Story of the Asis" provides a critical examination of the Australian intelligence agency and its operations, revealing significant concerns regarding its effectiveness and internal management.
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