2011 Independent Review of the Intelligence Community

The 2011 report of the Independent Review of the Intelligence Community (the Review) was the first comprehensive review of the Australian intelligence community since the 2004 inquiry conducted by Mr Philip Flood AO. 

Chapter two - The Australian intelligence community

The Review examined the community of six government agencies whose primary mission is to provide the government with intelligence. In this Chapter we provide a brief introduction to each agency.

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

ASIS was established on 13 May 1952 by Executive Direction[15]. ASIS was not publicly avowed until 25 October 1977, when Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser declared the agency’s existence and functions following a recommendation by the first Hope Royal Commission.

Until late 2001, ASIS operated under a Government Directive handed down by the National Security Committee of Cabinet to the Director-General. On 29 October 2001, stemming from the Samuels-Codd Commission of Inquiry recommendations, the Intelligence Services Act 2001 (Commonwealth) came into effect, replacing the Directive.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has responsibility for ASIS. The Minister oversees ASIS activities through several mechanisms under the Intelligence Services Act, including the requirement for ASIS to obtain approvals and authorisations before engaging in particular activities.

ASIS’s role is to provide a human intelligence capability and secret intelligence not readily available by other means to support and protect Australians and Australia’s national interests.

ASIS has the following functions:

  • Obtaining and distributing secret intelligence about the capabilities, intentions and activities of individuals or organisations outside Australia that may affect Australia’s interests and the well-being of its citizens
  • Undertaking counter-intelligence activities
  • Liaising with intelligence or security services, or other authorities, of other countries, and
  • Undertaking other activities as directed by the Minister, such as providing support to the Australian Defence Force and military operations.

Defence Signals Directorate

The forerunner of DSD, the Defence Signals Bureau, commenced operations in 1947. The Bureau’s intelligence role was formally acknowledged by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in a 1977 statement to the House of Representatives about the Hope Royal Commission. The Bureau was subsequently renamed the Defence Signals Directorate.

The Minister for Defence has responsibility for DSD.

DSD is now regulated by the Intelligence Services Act 2001. DSD’s role is to provide signals intelligence and information security support and advice. Its mission statement is: ‘Reveal their secrets. Protect our own’.

DSD’s functions are set out in the Intelligence Services Act and include:

  • Obtaining intelligence about the capabilities, intentions or activities of people or organisations outside Australia from intercepted signals and communicating that intelligence in accordance with the government’s requirements
  • Providing material, advice and other assistance to Commonwealth and State authorities on matters relating to the security and integrity of information that is processed, stored or communicated by electronic or similar means
  • Providing assistance to the Defence Force in military operations and to cooperate with the Defence Force on intelligence matters, and
  • Providing assistance to Commonwealth and State authorities in relation to cryptography, communication, computer and other specialised technologies and the performance by those authorities of search and rescue functions.

Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation

DIGO was established under a Cabinet Directive on 8 November 2000 by amalgamating the Australian Imagery Organisation and Directorate of Strategic Military Geographic Information, and the Defence Topographic Agency.

On 2 December 2005, DIGO came under the provisions of the amended Intelligence Services Act 2001.

The Minister for Defence has responsibility for DIGO. DIGO’s role is to provide geospatial intelligence from imagery and other sources in support of Australia’s defence and national interests.

DIGO’s main functions are to:

  • Provide geospatial intelligence to help meet Australia’s foreign intelligence requirements
  • Support Australian Defence Force operational, targeting, training and exercise requirements
  • Support the national security functions of the Commonwealth and State authorities
  • Provide unclassified geospatial services such as digital and hardcopy maps and tailored imagery
  • Provide technical advice and assistance on the use of geospatial information and services
  • Provide data and metadata standards for current and future Defence systems and platforms, and
  • Provide assistance to authorities undertaking emergency response functions.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

ASIO was established in 1949 pursuant to a directive given by the Prime Minister to the first Director-General of Security, Justice G S Reed. ASIO operated on the basis of this charter until legislation passed in 1956 put ASIO on a statutory rather than executive basis.

ASIO’s role is to advise the government of security threats to Australians and Australian interests at home and abroad. ‘Security’ has a specific meaning for ASIO. It is defined in the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (Commonwealth) as relating to espionage, sabotage, politically motivated violence, promotion of communal violence, attacks on Australia’s defence system, acts of foreign interference and serious threats to Australia’s border integrity.

In practical terms, ASIO’s functions include the:

  • Collection of intelligence through a wide range of means, including human sources and technical operations
  • Assessment of intelligence and the provision of threat assessments to government
  • Investigation and response to threats to security
  • Provision of security assessments including for visa applicants and for access to classified information and security controlled areas
  • Provision of protective security advice to government agencies and owners of critical infrastructure, and
  • Collection of foreign intelligence in Australia, at the request of the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Minister for Defence.

The Attorney-General has responsibility for ASIO.

Defence Intelligence Organisation

The forerunner of DIO, the Joint Intelligence Bureau, commenced operations in 1947. In 1970, JIB merged with the intelligence assessment elements of the three armed services to form the Joint Intelligence Organisation. That organisation developed to become DIO in 1990.

The Minister for Defence has responsibility for DIO. DIO’s roles and functions are specified in a mandate approved by the Minister.

DIO is an assessment agency. It provides defence-related intelligence assessments, advice and services, primarily to the Minister for Defence, members of the Australian Defence Force, senior Defence decision-makers, Defence policy planners and senior leaders of the Australian Government.

DIO’s role is to provide strategic level, all-source intelligence and advice to support the Defence of Australia and its interests.

DIO’s principal tasks are to provide:

  • Assessments, advice and services to support current and potential operations by the Australian Defence Force
  • Assessments on the intent and military capabilities of countries and foreign non-state actors relevant to Australia’s security environment
  • Technical assessments on weapons systems, cyber threats and defence-related technologies, and
  • Specialist advice to support whole of government strategies, including to counter proliferation and combat terrorism.

Office of National Assessments

ONA was established by the Office of National Assessments Act 1977 (Commonwealth) as an independent body directly accountable to the Prime Minister. The Director-General of ONA is an independent statutory officer who is not subject to external direction on the content of ONA assessments.

ONA’s role is to deepen Australia’s capacity to act in the world in ways that serve the national interest by increasing government understanding of international developments.

ONA’s functions include:

  • Reporting and assessment of international matters that are of political, strategic or economic significance to Australia
  • Coordination and evaluation of Australian foreign intelligence activities, and
  • The systematic collection, analysis and research of open source material to support Australian and allied government agencies.