ASIO 'spied on Indigenous activists to crush movement'

Australia’s domestic security agency, ASIO, spied on Indigenous activists in an attempt to crush the movement for political change in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, a retired Aboriginal studies academic claims.

Ken Canning, a former academic with UTS who was active in the rights movement, said ASIO had a file on him for responding to police violence.

"If you’re going to have a file on a person for reacting against a racist society; if you’re going to have a file on a person for fighting for their due rights, the rights they’re born with as the first people of this country – that’s ridiculous."

A four-part documentary series to air on SBS ONE from Tuesday January 7, called Persons of Interest, will explore why certain people were considered a risk to national security and monitored by ASIO.

Mr Canning said fellow activist Gary Foley probably had one of ASIO’s biggest files, and he questioned why.

"There’s no crime against making a speech," Mr Canning said.

"There’s no crime against telling the truth."

While ASIO said it was concerned about the prevention of violent protests and terrorism, Mr canning said the violence came from the state.

"I think we have conducted ourselves, as much as possible, in a non-violent way."

Persons of Interest will air on Tuesdays, 8.30pm, SBS ONE, until January 28.