Tony Burke breaks silence on ex-ASIO agent's Bondi royal commission testimony
In his first public remarks on the case, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the ex-ASIO agent's testimony can be heard in public.
The ex-ASIO agent, identified only as Marcus, is seeking to give testimony to the Bondi Royal Commission regarding his knowledge of the gunmen involved in the 2021 terror attack. He argues that his sensitive evidence should be heard in Australia due to legal protections afforded to him on Australian soil. However, the Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has stated that Marcus is able to give his evidence remotely, either over the phone or through video conferencing such as Microsoft Teams.
The royal commission has indicated it is eager to hear Marcus' testimony, and prefers that it be conducted in a public forum. Marcus has been living abroad and has applied for a visa to return to Australia, but his applications have been rejected. He has received support from whistleblower advocacy group Information Rights Project, which has expressed concern for his safety while living overseas.
The government has stated that it has followed normal visa processing procedures and that the royal commission's protections do not extend beyond Australia.
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