ASIO agent's name remains public despite Queensland Government saying it was removed

The identity of one of the country's top spies was still accessible online after the Queensland Premier offered an assurance it had been taken down.

Annastacia Palaszczuk was forced into an embarrassing apology after The Guardian revealed the blunder and she blamed "an administrative error" for publishing the name and title of an ASIO agent in the routine release of her diary.

"It was removed," a spokesman for the Premier said on Thursday.

"We apologise and steps have been taken to ensure it doesn't happen again."

But the ABC discovered the document was still available as late as midday Friday.

Unmasking an agent is an offence under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

As such, the ABC will not name the individual who accompanied ASIO director-general Duncan Lewis to the May 7 meeting with the Premier, Police Minister and then-Commissioner Ian Stewart.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-23/asio-name-leak-queensland-government-diaries/11442024

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