|
IGIS Annual Report 1999-00 |
IGIS Annual Report 1999-00
AUSTRALIAN IMAGERY ORGANISATION
WHAT AIO DOES
247. The Australian Imagery Organisation has prime responsibility for the acquisition and interpretation of imagery, and for the acquisition and exploitation of geospatial data.
248. In simple terms this means that AIO collects and analyses images of foreign and domestic subjects (eg. landforms, waterways, disputed territories etc.), for a range of Commonwealth agencies and the Australian Defence Force.
249. Detailed technical analysis of imagery obtained by the AIO can reveal information that is of value to key decision makers in the development of policies that are in the national interest, and of possible benefit in national and international emergency management which periodically arise.
250. AIO also has the capacity to combine imagery with other available sources of data to prepare highly accurate topographical maps and other aids that are of value in the preparation of plans relevant to national defence and security.
Accountability arrangements
251. At the completion of the reporting period AIO was pursuing a number of initiatives to more formally establish itself as a separate agency (it was previously a component of the DIO). These initiatives included the preparation and endorsement of a directive, representation on a range of committees in its own right, and work on a number of consequential legislative amendments.
252. One piece of legislation that needs to be amended is the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, which currently makes no reference to AIO. Until this situation is rectified, the Director AIO and I have agreed that I should oversee the activities of AIO as if the IGIS Act had already been amended. The Minister for Defence has endorsed this approach.