Australia's national terrorism threat level has been elevated to “probable” due to an alarming rise in violent extremism, driven by a mix of ideologies. 

The announcement this week by ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess highlights significant changes in the threat landscape.

Mike Burgess, alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, revealed that eight potential terror incidents had been disrupted in the past four months. 

Despite this, ASIO has no intelligence suggesting an imminent attack. 

However, the nature of the threats has evolved, with individuals increasingly adopting diverse and mixed ideologies that often advocate violence.

Burgess stressed that no single incident prompted the raised threat level. 

“One incident or a couple of incidents are not a reason to raise the threat level, but they are an indication of what we're seeing in society across those eight incidents,” he said. 

Notably, six of the eight disrupted plots involved individuals previously unknown to law enforcement or ASIO, with five involving minors aged between 14 and 21.

The authorities say a rise in youth radicalisation, largely facilitated by online platforms, is a significant concern. 

“The internet is a great thing but it also allows individuals to catch on to something and get there in a matter of days, not months or years, and that's particularly concerning now,” Burgess said. 

The trend began during the COVID-19 lockdowns and has persisted, highlighting the vulnerabilities of young Australians to extremist content.

Prime Minister Albanese attributed the increased threat level to factors such as youth radicalisation, the rapid spread of extremist ideologies online, and the emergence of “new mixed ideologies”. 

These ideologies often lack coherent logic and are primarily violence-driven, Burgess noted. 

An example cited was an individual with affiliations to both ANTIFA and neo-Nazism, highlighting the nonsensical nature of some mixed ideologies.

Burgess revealed that less than half of the recent incidents were religiously motivated. 

“Across the eight there's an equal mix of religiously motivated, nationalist and racist violent extremism,” he said.

He expressed concern over the rise of “accelerationists” - far-right individuals advocating for societal collapse to achieve white supremacy - who use platforms like Telegram and a channel called “Terrorgram” to spread their message.

In light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Burgess acknowledged its role in fuelling grievances and division but denied it was the primary driver for the raised threat level. 

He warned against supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, emphasising that such actions are illegal and will be prosecuted.

ASIO's stretched resources are being tested by the complexity and unpredictability of these threats. 

“We are stretched but you'd appreciate if I needed more, I'd ask that in private to government,” Burgess told reporters. 

To combat this growing threat, experts say patience and positive role models for the youth are essential. 

Australians are urged to remain vigilant but not fearful. 

Burgess emphasised the importance of community awareness and the role of law enforcement in maintaining security. 

“Australians should be aware, but not afraid,” he concluded.

The full statement is accessible here.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has called on platforms Google, Meta, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit to reveal what they are doing to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity.