The US National Security Agency (NSA) worked with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to tap the phones of an American law firm that was representing Indonesia in a trade dispute with Washington.  Prime Minister Tony Abbott didn’t comment on the latest embarrassing revelation from the documents released by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The 2013 document revealed by the New York Times says the Australian Signals Directorate monitored a Chicago-based law firm used by the government of Indonesia for trade talks.  The ASD said that “information covered by attorney-client privilege may be included” in the intelligence they offered to share with the NSA.

Abbott did claim that spying was used “to protect our citizens and the citizens of other countries”, and that, “We certainly don't use it for commercial purposes.”

At the time, Indonesia was involved in trade disputes over seafood and clove cigarettes.

It shows for the first time the level of cooperation between the American and Aussie electronic spying agencies, and the ease with which the ASD is able to tap into Indonesia’s phone network to listen in when it wants.