Former Australian spy 'Witness K' pleads guilty to conspiring to reveal classified information

A former senior spy known as "Witness K" has pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to conspiring to reveal classified information.

Witness K had been charged with conspiring with his then-lawyer Bernard Collaery to reveal information about alleged spying by Australia on the East Timor cabinet during sensitive oil and gas treaty negotiations.

Both Witness K and Mr Collaery were charged in 2018 with conspiring to reveal secret information

Witness K and Mr Collaery were each charged with a single count of conspiring to share information protected by section 39 of the Intelligence Services Act, which covers secrecy and the unauthorised communication of information