The nation’s spy boss has sounded the alarm on the threat of sophisticated Chinese government hackers launching attacks on Australian critical infrastructure assets such as airports and energy networks.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said that authoritarian regimes such as Russia and China are increasingly willing to target critical infrastructure assets to cause economic damage, undermine rivals’ military capabilities and sow social discord.

“I have previously said we’re getting closer to the threshold for high-impact sabotage,” Burgess told an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) forum in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“Well, I regret to inform you – we’re there now.”

In a clear reference to China, Burgess said: “ASIO is aware of one nation state – no prizes for guess

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