Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Monitoring Activities

92. Monitoring of ASIS' handling of foreign intelligence information concerning Australian persons continued during the year. Very few breaches were detected and those that were, were of a technical nature only. The rules governing the manner in which ASIS reports and distributes foreign intelligence information it collects are approved at Ministerial level. The present Rules have been in force since 1988.

93. The Director-General ASIS has instituted a review of the current Rules and has sought assistance from my Office. Some changes are warranted in my view. I will be contributing to the review which, when complete, will be passed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for his consideration.

94. During the year, at the invitation of the Director-General, I commenced examining a sample of operational records of the Service. The Samuels Commission of Inquiry into ASIS recommended that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security widen its examination of ASIS activities as part of the enhanced accountability framework it proposed. This activity will form the basis of a regular audit of ASIS' operational files and will strengthen the level of assurance I am able to provide to the Minister on ASIS' compliance with its approved charter and operating procedures. My inspections to date have not revealed anything untoward warranting being drawn to the attention of the Minister.

Complaints about ASIS

95. It is pleasing to report that no complaints about ASIS were lodged with my Office during the year, nor did I receive any references from the Minister.

96. My Office provided assistance to ASIS and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the settlement of the legal claims of the major complainants who were the subject of recommendations emanating from the Samuels Commission of Inquiry.