Defence Signals Directorate

Monitoring Activities

151. In the collection and dissemination of foreign signals intelligence, DSD operates under Government-endorsed rules designed to protect the privacy of Australians.

152. In December 1996, I met with the Director DSD, to discuss a proposal that the Rules should be reviewed (I made this suggestion in my last report). The Director DSD agreed that a joint review should be pursued.

153. In January/February 1997, as a prelude to reviewing the Rules, I conducted a 'systems audit' of DSD's existing procedures.

154. In March 1997, I reported to the Minister for Defence that in overall terms I found the Rules were operating well and that the risk of inadvertent breaches was quite low. Notwithstanding this, I identified a number of areas where I believed the Rules could be improved. Other agencies with an interest in the Rules support this view.

155. The Government has agreed that a review of the Rules is a priority and I will continue to provide support to the intelligence community in bringing the review to finality over the next few months.

Complaints about DSD

156. I received one, employment related, complaint about DSD during the reporting period. After initiating preliminary inquiries into this matter, I advised the complainant that I was not prepared to pursue the complaint until he had exhausted other available internal grievance mechanisms within DSD and the Department of Defence.