All nations snoop on each other, but it is the NSA which is the most prolific or should l say the most high profile on this issue. By the way did anyone see the how ASIO got paid back according to one Australian headline. Briefly, in i think it was 2005, the Chinese embassy in Canberra was found to be full of bugs and so they needed to rebuild this building. Recently, with the new ASIO building, China got the Aussies back a beauty according to this news article by pinching all the plans of this new ASIO building essentially majorly comprimising the whole building as everything is known. My five cents worth on this off topic. l can understand what you are saying people trying to gain access to Australia's borders illegally. The Profit made by people traffickers which is around AUS$20,000 + per person. Australia does not have a problem with people trying to gain refugee status in Australia bit, but it is the illegal bit they do have a problem with which in an election campaign both Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott.