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ASIO rejects concerns about Trump, US

Australia's head of intelligence says he's not reconsidering sharing classified information with the US in light of recent reported disclosures by Donald Trump.

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Source: AAP


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The head of Australia's intelligence agency has flatly rejected suggestions it may be reconsidering sharing sensitive information with the United States.

"No," Duncan Lewis replied when asked by Greens senator Nick McKim during a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday night.

The director-general said he was aware of speculation and reports about disclosures being made by US President Donald Trump but was unconcerned.

The US was an old and trusted ally and there has been "absolutely no change" to ASIO's position, he said.

"I can assure you that the leaders of the US IC (intelligence community) that I deal with, we have a relationship which is no different to what it has been during the rest of my working life.

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"There is absolutely nothing coming across my desk in terms of official-level correspondence or official-level relationships."

On any given day, officials in both countries were working together on co-operative projects, he said.

"There is absolutely no diminution of that nor a crisis of confidence in my mind."

It follows reports that British police have stopped sharing evidence from the investigation into the Manchester terror attack with the United States after a series of leaks to media.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday she will make it "clear" to Mr Trump at a NATO summit that intelligence shared between their security agencies must remain secure.


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