Two Australians charged with spying offences for allegedly ...

Two Russian-born Australians have been charged with spying offences, the first time the new laws have been used.

The couple allegedly conspired to send sensitive Australian Defence Force material to Russian authorities.

Police say further spying charges could be laid as Operation BURGAZADA continues.

Two Russian-born Australian citizens have been accused of obtaining Australian Defence Force material to share with Russian authorities.

Australian Federal Police arrested 40-year-old Kira Korolev, who is an ADF army private, and 62-year-old Igor Korolev at their home in the Brisbane suburb of Everton Park yesterday morning.

The married couple have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.

It is the first time an espionage offence has been laid since foreign interference laws were introduced in 2018. 

The pair are appearing before Brisbane Magistrates Court today, where police will allege the woman undertook undeclared travel to Russia while on long-term leave from the ADF, where she allegedly instructed her husband on how to log into her work account and access material to send to her.

Kira Korolev is accused of obtaining Australian Defence Force material to share with Russian authorities. (Facebook)

The couple had been in Australia for more than a decade before the alleged offending.

Police will allege the pair sought the information with the intention to provide it to Russian authorities — whether it was actually shared is still a subject of Operation BURGAZADA's investigation.

Mr Korolev's charge sheet alleged that he had "maintained a relationship with members or affiliates of Russian federation intelligence services" for the purpose of sharing information.

In separate mentions Mr and Ms Korolev did not apply for bail and their matters were adjourned until September 20.

Igor Korolev was charged over spying related offences.(Facebook)

How someone with a security clearance was able to travel to Russia will also form part of the ongoing investigation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been "briefed extensively" on the matter by Australia's security agencies, and said he would not comment beyond saying that the nation's security agencies were doing their job well.

The blinds were drawn at Igor and Kira Korolev's Everton Park apartment.(ABC News: Laura Lavelle)

Police have confirmed further charges could be laid as the investigation continues.

A more serious offence of espionage requires a direct evidential link to a foreign state, which carries penalties of 25 years to life in jail. 

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said espionage offences were not victimless.

"It has the potential to impact on Australia's sovereignty, safety and way of life." Mr Kershaw said.

Spy chief Mike Burgess said espionage was not a "quaint" notion and could have "catastrophic real-world consequences".

"Espionage is real. Multiple countries are seeking to steal Australia's secrets," Mr Burgess said.

Mr Burgess said he would not make further comment because the offences had not been tested in court.

ASIO spy chief Mike Burgess said espionage was a real threat to Australia.(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

The AFP and ASIO said there was no ongoing risk to the public.

In a statement, the Australian Defence Force said it took security breaches seriously and it would continue to work with the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce.

Defence said it would not make further comment, but said it was practice in response to serious allegations to suspend an ADF member from service, including immediately cancelling access to defence bases and computer systems.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi, who was former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's national security advisor when new foreign interference laws were first introduced, said the espionage case was harming Australia's national security.

"I think it clearly shows that we are up against, right now, not just the physical contest that we are seeing in Russia's war of Ukraine," Mr Bassi said. 

"We are seeing a battle for a whole range of strategic competition areas below that threshold of war and we have to be mindful, we can't just wait and react to where bullets are fired, we have to act before the contest and the competition becomes conflict."