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. 

Terms of reference

The Independent Review of the Intelligence Community (IRIC) in 2011 will review the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC) in accordance with a recommendation of the Inquiry into Australian Intelligence Agencies (the Flood Inquiry) in 2004.  The primary focus of this review will be the work of the six AIC agencies – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) and the Office of National Assessments (ONA).

The aim of the review is to address six key issues:

  1. How well the intelligence community is positioned to support Australia’s national interests, now and into the future;
  2. Development of the intelligence community over the last decade, including implementation of intelligence-related reforms;
  3. Working arrangements and relationships between the intelligence agencies and policy and operational areas of government;
  4. Working arrangements and relationships between the intelligence agencies and their international partners;
  5. Arrangements and practices within the intelligence community for collaborative work, including legislative arrangements; and
  6. Level of resourcing dedicated to the intelligence community and apportionment of resources across the community, noting that any future proposals would need to be offset consistent with the Government’s overall fiscal strategy.

The review will prepare findings and recommendations on the above issues and seek to provide a classified report to the Government around mid-year for its consideration in due course, as well as an accompanying unclassified version of that report.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will establish a secretariat drawn from across the intelligence community and related agencies, as well as provide all other administrative support required.  The review team will have full access to all material, including intelligence information and Cabinet documents, relevant to its examination.  The heads of all relevant departments and agencies will ensure they and their staff co-operate fully with the review, and provide any requested assistance.  Ministers will also be asked to meet with and assist the review team.