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The year in review
Complaints and referrals
15. As usual, most complaints were about ASIO, the agency most likely to interact with members of the Australian community. The total number of new or resumed complaints was 49 as compared to 55 in 1998-99. Forty-five complaints were finalised.
16. I completed an inquiry into a complaint received the previous year on behalf of an asylum seeker and concluded that ASIO's procedures had been deficient. In due course I expect to recommend a specific compensation payment for the person concerned (see paragraphs 153-167).
17. There were two requests from the Minister for Defence to conduct inquiries. The first related to the joint investigation by the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade into activities of the late Mr Mervyn Jenkins, a DIO officer in Washington who committed suicide in June 1999. The inquiry was nearly complete at the end of the reporting period. I received the second reference shortly before the end of the reporting year and the inquiry is ongoing.
Espionage Inquiry
18. In last year's annual report I referred to an inquiry instigated by the government following the arrest in the United States of a former DIO employee, Mr Jean-Philippe Wispelaere, on espionage charges.
19. During the reporting period I provided two reports arising from this case and expect to provide a third during the 2000-2001 reporting period.