The issue focused on intelligence cooperation between Australia and its closest ally, the United States. It accused Australia of spying on former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and publicly criticizing Washington over alleged spying by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Australia also defended itself against accusations it harbors Snowden by stating it does not spy on Americans and does not engage in systematic spying on Americans.

Snowden had contacted journalist Glenn Greenwald from Hong Kong through encrypted channels after revelations about widespread NSA spying became public in June