Australia’s spy laws set to undergo the biggest review in 40 years
AUSTRALIA’S spy laws are set to undergo a landmark review as authorities warn the threat of espionage and foreign interference is greater now than during the Cold War.
National
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AUSTRALIA’S spy laws are set to go under the microscope in the biggest review of the nation’s intelligence laws in more than 40 years amid a “constantly changing” threat environment.
Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter will announce the government has appointed former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson to undertake the review.
The review, which could lead to the biggest shake-up of national security legislation since the 1974 Hope royal commission into the intelligence services, comes as concerns mount about regional threats in the wake of a string of terror attacks in Indonesia.
It also comes amid mounting concerns about foreign espionage and interference operations in Australia, which current ASIO boss Duncan Lewis last week told Parliament was worse now than during the Cold War.
“The national security environment is constantly changing and it is essential that we ensure our agencies have the tools and framework they need to be effective and meet their core function — keeping Australians safe,” Mr Porter said in a statement today.
The intelligence gathering powers and functions of the nation’s intelligence agencies, as well as the Department of Home Affairs, Australian Federal Police, Australian Transactional Report Analysis Centre and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will go under review.
Mr Porter told Sky News today the “top-to-tail” review would cover everything, including resourcing, the adequacy of information sharing between federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the way the entire system was overseen and cooperation between federal agencies and state police.
Attorney-General @cporterwa on Australia's spy laws:
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 29, 2018
'We live in an age of unprecedented espionage and foreign interference...now is the time to have a top-to-tail review of all of the national intelligence community agencies.'
MORE: https://t.co/0ZlLALgZ2t #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/EBfXGhPn6E
The Australian reports the review will deal with longstanding frustrations in the national security community that many of the laws governing their activities have become outdated or unworkable.
Some of the key concerns are about restrictions on the sharing of intelligence information between agencies.
There have reportedly been instances where ASIO has been unable to pass on information to on-duty police officers warning them that terrorism suspects might be armed.
Other cases involve security authorities being unable to pass on evidence about suspected child abuse because the information was obtained through telephone interception warrants.
It’s expected Mr Richardson will report his findings to government by the end of 2019.
The sweeping review was a recommendation of the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review conducted by Michael L’Estrange and Stephen Merchant.