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Australian Intelligence Community

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The Australian Government statutory intelligence agencies that constitute the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC) are as follows:

Governance entities

The National Security Committee (NSC) is a Cabinet committee and the peak ministerial decision-making body on national security matters. It is chaired by the Prime Minister and the membership includes the Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Treasurer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The Secretaries for each respective public service department as well as the Chief of the Defence Force, the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of Security and the Director General of the Office of National Assessments and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.[1][2][3][4]

The Secretaries Committee on National Security (SCONS) is the senior inter-departmental committee supporting the National Security Committee. It considers all matters to be put before the NSC and has a strong role in ensuring that Australia maintains a coordinated policy approach on all national security issues. It is chaired by the National Security Adviser, and the membership contains all non-ministerial positions and secretaries of the departments of the National Security Committee, plus the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, the Commander of the Border Protection Command and the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Crime Commission.[5]

The Australian and New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) is a bilateral and intergovernmental high level body to coordinate counterterrorism capabilities, crisis management, command and control, intelligence and investigation functions comprised of representatives from the Australian Government, Australian state and territory governments and the New Zealand Government. Formally the National Counter-Terrorism Committee (NCTC), in October 2012, the New Zealand Government became members to encourage closer dialogue on matters of bilateral interest relevant to counter-terrorism. It was established by the Inter-Governmental Agreement in October 2002 to contribute to the security of the Australian community through coordination of a nation-wide cooperative framework, known as the National Counter-Terrorism Plan.[6]

The National Intelligence Coordination Committee (NICC) is to ensure that Australia's foreign, security and law enforcement intelligence activities are closely aligned and consistent with our national security priorities, and that the national intelligence effort is effectively integrated. It is chaired by the National Security Adviser and contains representation from all intelligence and security agencies.[7][8]

  • The National Intelligence Collection Management Committee (NICMC) is a subcommittee of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee and is responsible for setting specific requirements and evaluating collection effort against each of the National Intelligence Priorities (NIPs). It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments.[9]
  • The National Intelligence Open Source Committee (NIOSC) is a subcommittee of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee and is responsible for enhancing the coordination and capabilities of the national intelligence community’s open source efforts. It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments.[10]

The Heads of Intelligence Agencies Meeting (HIAM) brings together a sub-group of the all the national intelligence agencies comprising to consider issues relating specifically to Australia’s foreign intelligence activities. It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments and the Deputy Secretary for Defence Intelligence, Security and International Policy attends.[11]

Policy entities

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

The National Security and International Policy Group is in Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and led by the Associate Secretary for National Security and International Policy and provides advice on Australia's foreign, trade and treaty matters, defence, intelligence, non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border security and emergency management matters; coordinates security-related science and technology research matters; and plays a coordinating leadership role in the development of integrated, whole-of-government national security policy. The National Security and International Policy Group comprises three divisions each led by a First Assistant Secretary.

  • The National Security Adviser (NSA)[12] was a position that existed under the Rudd Government and Gillard Government from 2007 to 2013 which was the chief advisor for national security and international security policy and coordination.
  • The International Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on Australia’s foreign, trade, aid and treaty matters and priorities, including bilateral relations, relationships with regional and international organisations, free trade negotiations and whole-of-government priorities for the overseas aid program. It also includes the Asia‐Pacific, Americas and the Middle East Branch and the North Asia, Multilateral and Trade Branch.
  • The National Security Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on integrated, whole-of-government policy matters, priorities and strategy in the areas of military operations, defence strategy, counterterrorism and critical infrastructure protection. This Division is divided into the Defence Branch and the Domestic Security Branch.
  • The Cyber Policy and Intelligence Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on integrated, whole-of-government policy matters, priorities and strategy in the areas of cyber security, cyberterrorism, and intelligence coordination matters. This Division is divided into the Intelligence Branch and the Cyber Policy Branch.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The International Security Division is the international security and foreign intelligence policy and governance coordination entity. It is divided into three branches each led by an Assistant Secretary:

  • The Counter-Terrorism Branch coordinates international counter-terrorism policy and activities of the Australian Government. The branch is headed by the Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism with the rank of Assistant Secretary.
  • The Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation Branch coordinates international arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation policy.
  • The Strategic Issues and Intelligence Branch provides analysis, research and advice on strategic issues, foreign intelligence and other international security affairs.

Attorney-General's Department

The Attorney-General's Department is the chief law enforcement office of Australia and is responsible for operational coordination on national security issues, coordinates national security and crisis management arrangements, overseas protective security and infrastructure protection, and provides legal and legislative advice for national security and counterterrorism matters.[13]

The National Security Resilience Policy Division is part of the National Security and Criminal Justice Group and is responsible for policy, legislation, advice and programs related to developing resilience to all hazards, including the areas of critical infrastructure protection, electronic and identity security, and protective security policy.[14]

The National Security Law and Policy Division is part of the National Security and Criminal Justice Group and is responsible for national security policy, capability development, legislative reform and advice on issues including counter-terrorism, telecommunications interception and surveillance laws, chemicals of security concern and countering violent extremism.[15]

Department of Defence

The Office of the Secretary and Chief of Defence Force Group is the integrated diarchy command of the Australian Defence Organisation consisting of the Secretary of the Department of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Force. It supports the strategy and administration of the Australian Defence Organisation and maintains intelligence and security strategy and coordination functions:[16]

  • The International Policy Division provides strategic level policy advice to Government on Australia's defence relations and Australian Defence Force operations.[17]
  • The Strategic Policy Division provides analysis of Australia's strategic environment to inform Defence decision making, including on the development and use of military capability, the employment of the ADF, involvement in certain international programs such as the Proliferation Security Initiative, and export controls.[18]

Primary entities

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is Australia's national security service with the main role is to gather information and produce intelligence that will enable it to warn the government about activities or situations that might endanger Australia's national security. The ASIO Act defines "security" as the protection of Australia's territorial and border integrity from serious threats, and the protection of Australia and its people from espionage, sabotage, politically motivated violence, the promotion of communal violence, attacks on Australia's defence system, and acts of foreign interference. ASIO also includes the Counter-Terrorism Control Centre which is responsible for setting and managing counter-terrorism priorities, identifying intelligence requirements, and ensuring the processes of collecting and distributing counter terrorism information are fully harmonised and effective. The National Threat Assessment Centre is also part of ASIO and is responsible for analysis of terrorist threats to Australian interests overseas and terrorist threats and threats from violent protests in Australia.[19]

  • The National Threat Assessment Centre of ASIO prepares assessments of the likelihood and probable nature of terrorism and protest violence, including against Australia, Australians and Australian interests here and abroad, special events and international interests in Australia. Threat Assessments support jurisdictions and agencies to make risk management decisions to determine how best to respond to the threat and mitigate risk.

The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is Australia's overseas secret HUMINT collection agency with the mission to protect and promote Australia's vital interests through the provision of unique foreign intelligence services as directed by Government. ASIS's primary goal is to obtain and distribute secret intelligence about the capabilities, intentions and activities of individuals or organisations outside Australia, which may impact on Australia's interests and the well-being of its citizens.[20]

The Office of National Assessments (ONA) produces all-source assessments on international political, strategic and economic developments as an independent body directly accountable to the Prime Minister and provides advice and assessments to other Senior Ministers in the National Security Committee of Cabinet, and Senior Officials of Government Departments. ONA operates under its own legislation and has responsibility for coordinating and evaluating Australia's foreign intelligence activities. It draws its information from other intelligence agencies, as well as diplomatic reporting, information and reporting from other government agencies, and open source material.[21]

The Defence Intelligence and Security Group is an organisation of the Department of Defence that coordinates intelligence, security and other strategic policies. It is divided into four sub agencies.

  • The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) is responsible for collection, analysis and distribution of foreign signals intelligence and is the national authority on communications, information, cyber and computer security. The ASD also includes the Cyber Security Operations Centre which coordinates and assists with operational responses to cyber events of national importance and provides government with a consolidated understanding of the cyber threat through its intrusion detection, analytic and threat assessment capabilities.[24]
    • The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) of the ASD is responsible for information and communication technology security operations and coordination. The ACSC also identifies and researched emerging threats and provides analytic capabilities and techniques to respond to cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberwarfare. The ACSC integrates the cyber security functions of ASD, the DIO and Defence Science and Technology Organisation cyber functions, the Attorney-General’s Department Computer Emergency Response Team, AFP and ACC cybercrime investigators, and ASIO telecommunication security specialists.[25]
  • The Defence Security Authority (DSA) helps the Department of Defence Groups and the Australian Defence Force with protective security matters. The DSA’s responsibilities include developing and promulgating security policy that complies with Australian Government protective security policy, monitoring and reporting on security compliance, performance and risks, investigating serious and complex security incidents, granting security clearances for Defence and Defence Industry Security Program members, and conducting clearance revalidations and re-evaluations, assisting Groups and the Services with security policy implementation, and managing the Defence Industry Security Program.[26]

Secondary entities

The Australian Army Intelligence Corps (AUSTINT, AIC) is a corps of the Australian Army which serves as the principal military intelligence unit of the Australian Defence Force and provides staff to the Defence Intelligence and Security Group and major Australian Defence Force commands and staff organisations.[27][28]

The Australian Federal Police Intelligence Division (AFP) is a division of the Australian Federal Police under the Attorney-General's Department. It provides criminal intelligence and other intelligence capabilities across all operational functions and crime types. Divided into operational intelligence teams, the division collects, collates, analyses and disseminates intelligence on nationally significant criminal issues of interest to the AFP. Areas of intelligence operations extend to crime related to people smuggling, illicit drugs, human trafficking and sexual servitude, financial crime, counter-terrorism, high-tech crime, and child sex tourism.[29]

The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) is the national criminal intelligence and investigation agency under the Attorney-General's Department. It has a range of statutory functions centred on intelligence collection and dissemination and criminal investigations regarding nationally significant, serious and major crimes. The ACC recommends national criminal intelligence priorities (NCIPs), works collaboratively to federal, state and territory agencies, and maintains ongoing powers similar to a Royal Commission. The ACC shapes the national agenda on fighting serious crime, provides solutions for national serious crime priorities and maintains a leading capability in national criminal intelligence.[30]

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Intelligence and Targeting Division is a division of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under the Attorney-General's Department. It is responsible for the assessment of new and emerging threats to the border and customs and the provision of intelligence and targeting that informs and underpins risk mitigation.[31] It is divided into five groups:

  • The Cargo and Maritime Targeting Branch delivers cargo and maritime risk assessment, response coordination and information services that support legitimate trade and the risk based interventions needed to prevent the illegal movement of goods across the border. This incorporates multi domain risk indicator and target development, advanced analytical capability and capability development.[32]
  • The Counter People Smuggling Taskforce delivers intelligence that informs and supports policy, targeting and operational response to the management of border risks including maritime people smuggling. This branch incorporates mission integration of the whole of government effort in countering the irregular movement of people by sea.[33]
  • The Passenger Targeting Branch delivers traveller risk assessment, response co-ordination and information services that support legitimate travel and the risk based interventions needed to prevent the illegal movement of people and the goods they bring across the border. This branch incorporates the multi-agency passenger assessment, analysis, watch listing, traveller risk assessment capability development functions.[34]
  • The International Engagement (South East & South Asia) Branch encompasses Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The branch also has responsibility for Singapore, East Timor, the Philippines, Brunei, Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Jakarta office is responsible for our regional people smuggling and illegal foreign fishing activity, as well as a broad range of customs and border protection intelligence, investigations, and passengers/trade facilitation activities.[35]
  • The Strategic Development (Passengers) Branch delivers the Enhanced Passenger Assessment and Clearance Program.[36]

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) is the national financial intelligence agency under the Attorney-General's Department. It is responsible for gathering intelligence on and regulating money laundering, terrorism financing and major financial crimes.[37][38]

Oversight entities

Legislative bills

See also

In Australia

In other countries

References

  1. ^ [1] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  2. ^ [2] Attorney-General's Department Australian Government Coordination Counter-terrorism Committees
  3. ^ [3] Attorney-General's Department Australia's National Security Agencies
  4. ^ [4] Australian Government Directory National Security Committee
  5. ^ [5] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  6. ^ [6] Australian and New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee
  7. ^ [7] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  8. ^ [8] ASIO and the National Intelligence Coordination Committee
  9. ^ [9] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  10. ^ [10] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  11. ^ [11] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
  12. ^ [12] Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet National Security and International Policy Group Executive
  13. ^ [13] National Security Agencies information
  14. ^ Attorney-General's Department organisational structure
  15. ^ Attorney-General's Department organisational structure
  16. ^ [14] Australian Government Directory
  17. ^ [15] Australian Government Directory
  18. ^ [16] Australian Government Directory
  19. ^ [17] ASIO Overview
  20. ^ [18] ASIS Overview
  21. ^ [19] ONA About
  22. ^ [20] DIGO About
  23. ^ [21] DIO About
  24. ^ [22] ASD About
  25. ^ [23] Australian Cyber Security Centre
  26. ^ [24] DSA About
  27. ^ [25] Department of Defence Australian Army Intelligence Corps Media Release
  28. ^ [26] Defence Jobs Intelligence Corps Section
  29. ^ [27] Australian Federal Police Intelligence information
  30. ^ [28] Australian Crime Commission About Section
  31. ^ [29] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  32. ^ [30] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  33. ^ [31] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  34. ^ [32] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  35. ^ [33] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  36. ^ [34] Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Organisation Chart
  37. ^ [35] AUSTRAC Overview
  38. ^ [36] AUSTRAC Official Website
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