Annex 8 –Principles of ONA independence
What independence and propriety of ONA in respect of assessments is…
- Assessments made are based on Australia’s national interests, independent of the interests of other nations.
- Assessments that are:
- made objectively and dispassionately
- factually correct
- reflect careful and thorough consideration of intelligence and information, and
- free from political pressure/direction.
- Assessments are policy relevant but not policy driven: those policy considerations are accounted for, but the assessment itself is not determined or guided by the policy.
- Proper and robust debates with policy departments on certain issues, but with ONA always having the final say on their assessments.
Manifestations:
- The ability to question other analysts’ work; a culture of challenging/questioning/consulting on one another’s assessments in the drafting process.
- Taking part in robust debates that are driven by ideas, concepts and theories (rather than things such as personalities or status).
- Regularly revisiting / reviewing past assumptions and key judgements.
- Considering what information is not available; what has been omitted or is absent.
- Considering carefully what weight can logically be placed on material and what qualifications should be made about its reliability.
- Being satisfied there is a sufficient body of reliable material to justify firm judgments.
- Being given feedback on why an assessment has been modified / altered.
- Being able to have dissent recorded without detriment to career aspirations.
- Understanding and acceptance by those outside of ONA’s independence.
What independence and propriety of ONA in respect of assessments is not…
- Assessments being biased towards desired policy outcomes rather than being objective in their own right; assessments that are driven by the policy considerations of the government.
- Assessments to suit ministers who want intelligence backing for action.
- Tailoring assessments to avoid “rocking the boat” or avoid a critical reaction from:
- Ministers (for political or policy reasons)
- policy departments
- other governments or their agencies.
- Simply not producing assessments which will “rock the boat” or draw a critical reaction.
Manifestations:
- Acceptance of direction on the judgements in assessments from ministers or policy departments.
- Sensitivity to how particular conclusions will be viewed from outside ONA to the point that would affect an assessment/outcome.
- The deliberate selection of only that information and intelligence which supports an argument or position.
- A systematic (even unconscious) distortion of intelligence.
- Stretching intelligence to fit particular views.
- Passive acceptance of information or intelligence.
- Intolerance of different views; groupthink.
- Reliance on the status quo; not revisiting key judgements.
- Judgements not qualified when appropriate.
- Qualifiers and caveats are disregarded or removed.
- When the key judgements don’t accurately capture the totality of a report.
- Unexplained and/or apparently unsourced amendments to draft assessments.
- Difficult or politically sensitive issues (which are relevant to ONA’s mandate) not addressed or ignored.