The head of ASIO has revealed the spy agency foiled a plot by a foreign government “puppeteer” to influence the outcome of an Australian election, with experts suggesting who might have been behind the plan.

Mike Burgess didn’t identify which election was being targeted because he says “we are seeing attempts at foreign interference at all levels of government, in all states and territories”.

It was also unclear which country was behind the push to manipulate the outcome of the election.

Director of defence, strategy and national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Michael Shoebridge, explained more about the likely suspects.

“In this case, there is a limited field of countries that would have enough funding, capability and the real intent to interfere in Australian politics,” he told Scott Emerson.

“Mike Burgess told us it wasn’t any of our close allies, but the countries that come to mind are those usual suspects, China or the Russian federation with other actors following quite a way behind although still interested in spying but the two at the top are China and Russia.”

He said their goal is to “overtly change Australian policy” or at least disrupt decision making.

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ASIO foils ‘puppeteer’s’ plot to interfere in Australian election