The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the woman, a Chinese national, was tasked by a public security bureau of China to “covertly gather information” about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta.

The woman – also a permanent Australian resident – was arrested on Saturday after AFP officers executed search warrants at a home in Canberra.

Police seized a number of items, including electronic devices, during the raid.

The charged woman appeared before ACT Magistrates Court today charged with one count of reckless foreign interference, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.

The woman was arrested and charged after the AFP and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) launched the joint Operation Autumn-Shield.

It marks just the third time a foreign interference charge has been laid in Australia after the National Security Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 was introduced seven years ago.

A Victorian man was also charged in 2020 and a NSW man was charged under the act in 2023.

​AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations ​Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said it was the first time a foreign interference charge involved a person allegedly targeting members of the Australian community.

“Foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion,” Nutt said.

“As with other like-minded countries, Australia is not immune to foreign interference, and we should not expect that this arrest will prevent further attempts to target our diaspora communities.

“At a time of permanent regional contest, offenders will attempt to spy on individuals, groups and institutions in Australia.

”We need all Australians to be our eyes and ears and alert authorities if you see someone being targeted.”

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said he was “proud” of how the spy organisation worked with the AFP to lay the foreign interference charge.

“Foreign interference of the kind alleged is an appalling assault on Australian values, freedoms and sovereignty,” Burgess said.

“In this year’s Annual Threat Assessment, I called out these types of activities and put perpetrators on notice by stating, ‘We are watching, and we have zero tolerance.’

“Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve.”

As per the AFP website, foreign interference is classed as any activity carried out by or on behalf of a foreign government which may be “coercive, threatening, deceptive or clandestine”.