Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess has warned that Iran may seek to 'kill prominent Jewish Australians' and said antisemitism has reached 'disturbing' levels, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
Key facts
- Asio director general Mike Burgess warned Iran may want to 'kill prominent Jewish Australians'.
- Burgess described antisemitism in Australia as being at 'disturbing' levels.
- Separately, technology companies told a federal inquiry that Australia should slow down its use of artificial intelligence.
- OpenAI's submission argued national leaders must work with other countries to counter cross-border security threats.
Australia’s top intelligence official, Asio director general Mike Burgess, has issued a stark warning that Iran may want to ‘kill prominent Jewish Australians’, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of the day’s events.
Burgess also warned that antisemitism in Australia has reached ‘disturbing’ levels, according to the same reporting. The comments place a spotlight on both foreign interference concerns and rising community tensions.
The warning was carried in the Guardian’s rolling live blog covering Australian news on 18 September 2026, which tracked a range of domestic and international developments through the day.
Separately, the same coverage reported on concerns about the pace of artificial intelligence adoption in Australia. The companies creating the technology told the federal government that the country needs to slow down its use of AI and create better security laws.
In a submission to an ongoing inquiry, OpenAI said national leaders had a responsibility to work with other countries to stop global security threats. The company argued that ‘many of the most consequential risks will not stop at national borders, making international co-ordination increasingly important.’
The combined coverage highlights the breadth of security issues facing Australian policymakers, spanning foreign threats, community safety and the emerging risks posed by rapidly advancing technology.
Why it matters
A warning from the head of Australia's domestic intelligence agency about a possible threat to Jewish Australians raises serious questions about community safety and foreign interference. At the same time, calls to slow AI adoption underline the growing pressure on governments to balance innovation with security.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Asio chief say about Iran?
According to the Guardian's live coverage, Asio director general Mike Burgess warned that Iran may want to 'kill prominent Jewish Australians'.
What did Burgess say about antisemitism in Australia?
Burgess described antisemitism in Australia as being at 'disturbing' levels, according to the same reporting.
What did technology companies tell the federal inquiry about AI?
They told the government that Australia needs to slow down its use of artificial intelligence and create better security laws. OpenAI's submission said national leaders should work with other countries to stop global security threats, noting many risks do not stop at national borders.