I've never claimed to be. What I am is informed about how Australian diplomats do and do not operate, with a reasonable of how Australian security services operate as well, in a city like London.
One, they are part of 5 eyes and can spy on Americans, share the info, and circumvent the rules here.
We do that in terms of electronic intelligence and communications on occasion - I don't know personally if Australia has ever done it in the US, but I do know the theory that it circumvents rules that say foreign intelligence services shouldn't operate in their own country.
But that wouldn't apply in this case. If something like this happened, it would be a matter of activities taking place in the United Kingdom. Neither American foreign intelligence (CIA) or Australian foreign intelligence (ASIS) have any legal impediments in operating in London if they feel a need to.
Two, perhaps the President of the US asked them to cooperate and made up some believable reason.
If so, there wouldn't be anything inappropriate about that on the part of Australian organisations. There might be on the part of American organisations.
Time will tell.
Yes - and as I say, I'd like to see this all fully and properly investigated. Mainly because I think that would lay to rest this nonsense that Alexander Downer did anything he shouldn't have, and put any blame that does exist where it lies (which in my view is likely to be with George Papadopoulous).
“because I think that would lay to rest this nonsense that Alexander Downer did anything he shouldn’t have, and put any blame that does exist where it lies (which in my view is likely to be with George Papadopoulous).”
.....
Once the declassed docs are released, and we know, we’ll be able to talk about what happened factually.
Until then, it’s opinion.
Meet you then for a follow up.
Best