China breached Australia's parliamentary computer network for a year

The Chinese intelligence agencies are reportedly suspected of having penetrated Australia's parliamentary computer network for nearly a year in 2011.

The Chinese spies may have been inside the system for up to a year and had access to documents and emails that reveal the political, professional and social links across the political world, according to seven sources with knowledge of the breach, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The Chinese were able to obtain both remote and system administration access to the Parliament's computer network, which in turn effectively gave them control of it, security and parliamentary sources said.

Meanwhile, senior sources said the breach was much more serious and Australian intelligence reached the "absolutely clear conclusion" that Chinese intelligence was responsible and informed their political masters the identities of the intruders, the report adds.