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An Australian Defence Force (ADF) officer has lost his high-level security clearance due to his loyalty to Israel.
The Army Reserve officer, known in documents as HWMW, is an Australian citizen and Jewish man who first joined the ADF in 2004.
He has held an NV2 security clearance since 2010 — the second-highest clearance that includes access to classified resources up to and including "top secret".
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Australia's intelligence agency ASIO conducted two security assessment interviews and two written questionnaires from October 2020 to April 2023, in which HWMW stated he would hand over classified or sensitive information to Israel if asked, felt a sense of "natural solidarity" with Israel and does not view Israel as a foreign government.
He also intentionally withheld information on two training courses he attended in Israel in February 2016 and February 2019.
ASIO found HWMW was vulnerable to influence or coercion in acts of espionage or foreign interference and concluded that he had "demonstrated a higher level of loyalty to Israel than to the Australian government".
"ASIO assesses this demonstrates [HWMW's] loyalty to Israel outweighs his obligations to the Australian government as a security clearance holder," ASIO assessments found, according to Administrative Review Tribunal documents.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess issued an adverse security assessment on June 3, 2023.
HWMW's security clearance was revoked, which ASIO admitted may negatively affect his ongoing employment due to the type of information and roles he can be subject to and future employment within the Australian government.
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HWMW did not agree with the assessment and requested a review by the Administrative Review Tribunal, arguing he had served 19 years with the Army and acted within the requirements of his security clearance.
"…Under no circumstances would I conduct espionage or assist the [Israel intelligence service] whilst I am wearing the ADF uniform," he said, according to tribunal documents.
The Administrative Review Tribunal heard from both sides and, in its decision published last week, supported and affirmed the ASIO assessment.
"We are satisfied the information contained in the security assessment is correct and correctly represented, and we are satisfied it is reasonably relevant to the requirements of security in respect of risks of espionage and acts of foreign interference," the tribunal found.
The tribunal noted it did not make findings into whether HWMW has been disloyal to the Australian government but rather his divided loyalties between his obligations in his role and his faith and cultural identity.
9news.com.au has contacted the ADF for comment.
ASIO has refused to comment on individual cases.
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