# A top-secret spy mission, a decades-old scandal – and the Austin Powers-esque saga to lift the lid

- Source: Guardian World
- Published: 2026-10-31T00:04:51+00:00
- Category: Local
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/31/timor-leste-australia-bugging-rex-patrick-ntwnfb
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/a-top-secret-spy-mission-a-decades-old-scandal-and-the-austin-powers-e-ce7446/

Rex Patrick’s latest transparency fight is over what he calls ‘most open secret in the history of Australian spying’ – maybe even the world Get our daily political email , free app or daily news podcast A campaign to uncover any documents relating to whether Australian spies bugged Timor-Leste to gain the upper hand in sensitive oil and gas negotiations will be a little less secret after a critica

_Ground Level News shows a short summary only; the full article and all rights belong to Guardian World._