Asio will go wherever terrorism threat is, despite low number of listed rightwing groups

Australian spy agency's chief tells Senate espionage and foreign interference supplanted terrorism' as principal security concern

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Spy agency Asio has vowed to follow terrorism threats regardless of the source, insisting investigators won't be hampered by the relatively low number of rightwing groups officially listed as terrorist organisations in Australia.

The director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Mike Burgess, said on Monday some groups were very clever" and were very careful to do things to avoid getting formally designated, but his agency would focus on anyone who believed violence is the answer".

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup