'Australian far-right extremists better organised and more sophisticated than their predecessors, says ASIO

Australia's domestic intelligence agency has revealed far-right extremists are increasingly occupying its caseload.

Police watch on as anti-fascist demonstrators gather near a far-right rally on St Kilda foreshore Source: AAP

Threats from far-right extremists take up between 30 and 40 per cent of ASIO's resources, up from only 15 per cent half a decade ago.

ASIO deputy director-general Heather Cook confirmed right-wing violence now occupies between 30 and 40 per cent of the intelligence organisation's counter-terrorism cases, more than a third of the agency's workload, up from 10 to 15 per cent prior to 2016.

Ms Cook compared the recruiting practices of far-right extremists to that of the Islamic State (IS), amid fears the coronavirus pandemic could exacerbate the threat of terrorism.