ROLE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is an independent statutory office which helps the Prime Minister, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence, oversight and review the activities of the following six intelligence and security agencies:
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)
- Defence Signals Directorate (DSD)
- Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)
- Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), and
- Office of National Assessments (ONA).
These six agencies collectively form what is known as the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC).
Other government agencies, such as the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service also play very important roles in safeguarding Australia’s national interests, but as they are not members of the AIC, their activities fall outside of the legislative jurisdiction of the IGIS.
The purpose of the oversight and review activities undertaken by the IGIS is to ensure that each AIC agency acts legally and with propriety, complies with ministerial guidelines and directives and respects human rights.
The office was established by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and commenced from 1 February 1987.
The Inspector-General can undertake an inquiry into the activities of an agency in response to a complaint or a request from a minister. The Inspector-General can also act independently to initiate inquiries and conducts regular inspections and monitoring of agency activities.
In conducting an inquiry, the Inspector-General has significant powers which include requiring the attendance of witnesses, taking sworn evidence, copying and retention of documents and entry into an agency’s premises. The Inspector-General can also conduct preliminary inquiries into matters in order to decide whether to initiate a full inquiry.
Further information about the role and functions of the Inspector-General can be found elsewhere in this report and at http://www.igis.gov.au.