According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the woman, a Chinese national, was allegedly instructed by a Chinese public security bureau to “covertly gather information” on the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta.

The woman – also a permanent Australian resident – was arrested on Saturday after AFP officers executed search warrants at a home in Canberra.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said he was “proud” of how the spy organisation worked with the AFP to lay the foreign interference charge.

“Foreign interference of the kind alleged is an appalling assault on Australian values, freedoms and sovereignty,” Burgess said.

“In this year’s Annual Threat Assessment, I highlighted these kinds of activities and warned potential offenders by saying, ‘We are vigilant, and we have zero tolerance.’

“Anyone who believes it is acceptable to surveil, intimidate, and potentially return members of our diaspora communities should never undervalue our abilities and determination.”

According to the AFP website, foreign interference refers to any actions performed by or on behalf of a foreign government that might be “coercive, threatening, deceptive, or clandestine”.