In a significant transformation of Australia’s intelligence oversight, six key agencies including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and Home Affairs are now integrated into the comprehensive National Intelligence Community. This restructuring marks the largest overhaul since the 1980s.

As part of this initiative, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will work closely with the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) to address operational issues. While IGIS will manage these operational matters, the PJCIS holds the power to initiate investigations and assess potential legislative adjustments.

This sweeping reform follows detailed inquiries into the national intelligence community, notably the 2019 Richardson Review, which evaluated the effectiveness of Australia’s intelligence legislation. The conclusion of these inquiries highlighted the need for robust oversight and adaptability in the face of evolving security challenges.

In recognition of the need for a unified front against emerging threats, ASIO and the AFP have been reintegrated into the Home Affairs portfolio after the federal election in May. This move underscores the importance of collaboration and collective response in maintaining national security.

Raff Ciccone, the chair of the PJCIS, emphasizes the necessity of establishing safeguards to manage the expanding powers of intelligence agencies. These changes are designed to ensure a balance between effective security measures and the protection of civil liberties.

PCJIS chair Raff Ciccone says there needs to be guardrails around the ever-growing powers of intelligence agencies. Source: AAP / James Ross

Ciccone said the security landscape is changing and growing more “complex”, requiring partnership between the other national security review bodies to ensure oversight over the “entirety of the national intelligence community”.