Australian spy bugging of Timor-Leste: transparency advocate wins court access to secret docs

Former senator Rex Patrick has won a legal victory in his campaign to declassify documents related to an alleged 2004 Australian intelligence operation that bugged Timor-Leste during sensitive oil and gas negotiations. The case, which Patrick calls the 'most open secret in the history of Australian spying,' could expose state-level espionage against a smaller neighbor. The outcome may strain bilateral relations and set a precedent for intelligence transparency in Australia.

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