Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2005

Susan Harris Rimmer, The Australia Institute
Jane Grace

Abstract

In March 2004, the Prime Minister announced an independent review of the Australian foreign intelligence community including, inter alia, the effectiveness of oversight and accountability mechanisms; the suitability of the current division of labour among the agencies; the contestability of intelligence assessments and the adequacy of current resourcing of intelligence agencies. Mr Philip Flood AO conducted the Inquiry into Australian Intelligence Agencies and submitted his report to the Prime Minister in July

The Government subsequently agreed to accept the recommendations of the Flood Inquiry, with the exception of the proposal to change the name of the Office of National Assessments. This Bill implements several recommendations from the Flood Inquiry. The Government has also agreed that this legislative package include the further amendments that have been agreed as a result of a review of the ISA coordinated by the PM&C in 2004. This review was initially suggested in the 2002 and 2003 Annual Reports of the IGIS. This review included a request from the PJCAAD in August 2004 that the Government consider a number of changes to that committee, including an increase in the size of the committee and other adjustments to help the PJCAAD respond to its increasing workload, for instance reviewing the listing of terrorist organisations and inquiry into ASIO’s special powers under Division 3, Part III of the ASIO Act.