“Unbeknownst to them, ASIO was monitoring and subtly steering their every move,” Burgess remarked.

The narrative carried a stark caution: espionage and foreign meddling are now targeting Australians at unprecedented levels.

He further disclosed that ASIO is scrutinizing numerous pro-Russian social media personalities in Australia, who are “almost certainly” acting under the Kremlin’s guidance.

“Their aim is to escalate contentious topics into explosive issues, transforming disagreements into divisions and ultimately, divisions into violence,” he explained.

“They consider journalists as ‘useful pawns’ in this context, rejoicing in even the harshest critiques as it inadvertently boosts their membership numbers,” he added.

Neo-Nazis see journalists as ‘useful idiots’, Burgess says

“They see journalists as ‘useful idiots’ in this regard, and they celebrate even the most critical coverage because it inevitably leads to a surge in membership applications.”

Burgess likened the rhetoric of Hizb ut-Tahrir — an international Islamic fundamentalist political organisation — to the National Socialist Network.

“I fear its anti-Israel rhetoric is fuelling and normalising wider antisemitic narratives.”

Social cohesion ‘up to all of us’

“You cannot spy your way to greater social cohesion.”