This seems odd

I don't understand the point of ASIO making this announcement (of a retired politician who had been "cultivated" by foreign spies) without naming him.  Or perhaps more to the point, I don't understand how ASIO would think they can say this without causing political intrigue that will fester away for some time.

Here is what some Labor people are saying:

Defence Minister Richard Marles said there may have been good reasons not to name the retired politician.

"I respect what ASIO have done here in terms of putting this story into the public domain but also maintaining the confidentiality of the facts around this, and there could be a whole lot of reasons why that should happen," he said.

"We've got among the best agencies in the world dealing with this, the specific facts which underlie this scenario for good reason are not in the public domain."

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, a cabinet minister in the Albanese government, said she was not aware of who the compromised politician was and only knew what had been publicly reported.

She said it was concerning to think she may have worked alongside the politician, but it was not for her to know who it was.

"I think that's really a matter for the ASIO boss. I imagine there's a reason they haven't named the person or taken further action, I think the point is to give a public warning this is a risk," Ms Plibersek told Sky News.

"I have to say anybody who works with foreign agents of influence to pass on information to a foreign government is a traitor."

I agree with the view that the Coalition's reaction seems to indicate that they are pretty confident it's not one of their retired politicians, but I would add that this is probably nothing to be too proud of, in that what self-respecting foreign power would think one of their useless retired pollies is worth cultivating?  :)