What does the IGIS do?

The IGIS:

• monitors what the Australian intelligence and security agencies do
• conducts inquiries, either self-initiated or at the request of government
• investigates complaints about the agencies
• makes recommendations to government, and
• provides annual reports to the Parliament

The IGIS has extensive powers to obtain information and can:

• require any person to answer questions and produce relevant documents
• take sworn evidence, and
• enter agency premises

The IGIS' inquiries are conducted in private, but many of them are reported in annual reports.