Anderson briefed the Prime Minister with the Attorney General in attendance. As the special adviser liaising between ASIO, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, and the Prime Minister’s office, it was his responsibility, inter-alia , to ensure that the country’s political leadership remained current regarding security matters. The session had not proceeded well. The Prime Minister had exploded when the Attorney-General had dropped the bomb shell. “Jesus bloody Christ!” the politician hissed menacingly. “Jesus bloody Christ!” he repeated. “Prime Minister, we will have an update within a few days and hopefully the report will not be as grim.” The most powerful politician in the country glared furiously at Anderson. He despised cloak and dagger operatives even more than the career bureaucrats who controlled the public service. “Are you telling me Mr Anderson that we will not have an update regarding critical defence information for at least another forty- eight hours?”
