Australia politics live: man charged after Sydney protest over police tactics; Asio chief defends agency against criticisms over Bondi attack

Another night of demonstrations in Sydney after criticism of police actions at Monday’s protest. Follow updates liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe head of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency has dismissed criticisms his officers didn’t do enough to prevent the Bondi shooting attack as “baseless” while declaring claims by a former undercover agent aired on the ABC were untrue.The director-general, Mike Burgess, told a Senate estimates hearing last night he ordered a review immediately following the attack into how his agency, the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (Asio), assessed shooters 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father, Sajid, in 2019 when they first appeared on the radar.The Akrams did not adhere to, or intend to, engage in violent extremism at that time. In other words, many of the claims and criticisms being made about Asio’s handling of the case are baseless.The royal commissioner, of course, will reach her own conclusions.If Asio is found to have made mistakes, we will own them, and we will learn from them. Continue reading...