Huawei might be singled out by conservative scholars of the Catholic Church (see author's connection) because China is 'godless' and Communist. However Huawei is not the only communications firm with likely signals intelligence connections. Many other foreign firms building Australia's phone systems and internet are potentially 'bugging' us.

The charge that Huawei includes former senior executives in signals intelligence organisations is not at all unique. A look at Eurporean, US and 'free world' Asian communications and computer firms will also indicate former signals intelligence connections.

Its not unusual that communications companies by law must cooperate with signals intelligence organisations. see
see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/india-further-developing-its.html

Pete

Knock back Huawei simply to show solidarity with the US, and because the government is totalitarian? Are those valid reasons?

If equipment buyers started judging suppliers on the basis of the political system of the country in which they are based, their life would become very complicated..

As for the company deliberately setting up equipment so that it is easier for Chinese government agencies to hack I am at a loss for words... much of what is called hacking relies on quite basic breaches in security, rather than anything to do with the equipment as such. This is cold war conspiracy stuff..

Pete:

...The string on your Catholic conspiracy bow strains to breaking point with your opening lines here. I give Gillard no credit at all for any Political nouse, but as accidently as it has happened, her blind allegiance to the USA is refreshing.

...This point is never lost on the Chinese, and is reason to further distrust them; from the Australian political perspective that is, IMO

Responding to first comment,

Actually I am agnostic, and would not describe myself as conservative, although most us have an electic range of beliefs

In any case, China is not godless, although state there wants total control even of its Catholic church members. Paranoid about religious diversity, as it is towards any greater expression of civil society.

Never mind the Chinese, SIGINT collection and analysis undertaken on behalf of the five signatory states to the UK-USA Security Agreement (Australia, Canada, NZ, UK and US) or Five Eyes under the so-called program ECHELON has been controlling, intercepting and disseminating commercial and private satellite, microwave, phone, fax, email and internet information since the 1960’s.

Primarily it is run by the NSA, was designed and built by the likes of Lockheed Martin, initially to spy on the Russians and Eastern Bloc countries during the cold war.

A 2001 European Parliamentary (EP) report lists several stations as belonging to or participating in the ECHELON network. These include:
• Hong Kong (since closed)
• Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (Geraldton WA)
• Menwith Hill UK (reportedly the largest Echelon facility)
• Misawa Air Base Japan
• GCHQ Bude UK
• Pine Gap NT
• Sugar Grove US
• Yakima Training Centre US
• GCSB Waihopai NZ
• GCSB Tangimoana NZ
• CFS Leitrim Canada
There are also stations in Cyprus, Germany, Hawaii, Texas, Guam and other places around the world.

I would think that given the deterioration in global political spheres this program has been significantly upgraded and grown, particularly by the US government and they will be looking at everything and everyone.

Information is power and the changing geopolitical environment will be fought in the future with information and technology.

Placing all your bets with the US could be a mistake, especially noting this empire is obviously in a state of decline.