Daily Bulletin

Men's Weekly

.

  • Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
image

In the third volume of The Official History of ASIO series, historians Dr John Blaxland and Dr Rhys Crawley examine the organisation’s role in the years leading to the end of the Cold War.

Blaxland tells Michelle Grattan that this is a story about looking at Australia in the ‘70s and '80s “through the glasses of an ASIO officer or an ASIO agent”.

During the period covered in the book, Blaxland says the Soviet Union was so active in Australia the work of ASIO was not sufficient to cover their activity.

“Effectively, ASIO found itself dealing with a grown Soviet presence and a proliferation of Soviet Bloc consulates and diplomatic presences that were simply beyond it. They weren’t resourced to monitor them all. And so we now know that while ASIO was doing what it could, it was in a position where it was simply outpaced. They did not have the number of officers and agents in place to monitor the incredible growth in the number of diplomats-cum-spies operating in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and elsewhere,” he says.

In this final volume, which was preceded by The Protest Years and The Spy Catchers, Blaxland and Crawley draw upon ASIO archives and interviews with former spies to piece together a history of one of Australia’s most secretive institutions.

Music credit: “The Spirit of Russian Love” by Zinaida Troika, covered by Kosta on the Free Music Archive.

Authors: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Read more http://theconversation.com/politics-podcast-john-blaxland-on-the-secret-cold-war-the-official-history-of-asio-67563

Business News

Why Heavy Duty Moving Dollies Are Essential for Safe Transport in Australia

Moving heavy or bulky items can be challenging, especially when it involves transporting goods across warehouses, offices, or even during residential relocations. In Australia, where industries like c...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Westlink Construction Cleaning Revolutionizes Warehouse Cleanliness with Eco-Friendly Solutions in Sydney

“Innovative cleaning services offer sustainable and efficient solutions to meet the growing demand for eco-conscious warehouse maintenance.” Westlink Construction Cleaning is proud to announce its gr...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

How HZad Education Supports International Students Preparing for CELPIP in Australia

As Australia officially accepts CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) for visa applications, international students face new opportunities alongside unprecedented preparation ch...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

LayBy Deals