Australian Intelligence Community

The Australian Government statutory intelligence agencies that constitute the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC) are as follows:

Governance entities

The National Security Committee (NSC) is a Cabinet committee and the peak ministerial decision-making body on national security matters. It is chaired by the Prime Minister and the membership includes the Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Treasurer, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Defence and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The Secretaries for each respective public service department as well as the Chief of the Defence Force, the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of Security and the Director General of the Office of National Assessments and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

The Secretaries Committee on National Security (SCNS) is the senior inter-departmental committee supporting the National Security Committee. It considers all matters to be put before the NSC and has a strong role in ensuring that Australia maintains a coordinated policy approach on all national security issues. It is chaired by the National Security Adviser, and the membership contains all non-ministerial positions and secretaries of the departments of the National Security Committee, plus the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, the Commander of the Border Protection Command and the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Crime Commission. ^[5]

The National Security and International Policy Group is in Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and led by the National Security Advisor and provides advice on Australia's foreign, trade and treaty matters, defence, intelligence, non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border security and emergency management matters; coordinates security-related science and technology research matters; and plays a coordinating leadership role in the development of integrated, whole-of-government national security policy. The National Security and International Policy Group comprises four divisions each led by a First Assistant Secretary.

• The National Security Adviser (NSA) ^[6] is the Executive of the National Security and International Policy Group and is an Associate Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and source of advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on all policy matters relating to the security of the nation and oversees the implementation of all national security policy arrangements. The NSA's responsibilities complement the roles and responsibilities of the heads of individual national security agencies by enhancing whole-of-government coordination. ^[7]

• The Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) supports the work of the National Security Adviser across the breadth of national security and international policy development, advice and coordination responsibilities, provides whole-of-government leadership on a range of national security policy issues, including as chair of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee and the National Crisis Committee and co-chair of the Australian Emergency Management Committee and oversees the routine business of the National Security and International Policy Group.

• The National Security Chief Information Officer (NSCIO) provides strategic direction and coordination for information sharing across the national security community and to coordinate the whole-of-government approach to cyber policies and activities. This includes harmonising the broad policy, governance and legislative arrangements currently in place so as to improve interoperability and collaboration, provide oversight of the national security information management environment and provide strategic leadership and coordination on matters of cyber policy and strategies across the entire cyber spectrum, from online consumer protection to cyber defence. ^[8]

• The International Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on Australia’s foreign, trade, aid and treaty matters and priorities, including bilateral relations, relationships with regional and international organisations, free trade negotiations and whole-of-government priorities for the overseas aid program. It also incorporates the International Strategy Unit, which focuses on developing innovative and forward-looking advice on policy challenges in the medium to long term across the foreign and international security domains.

• The Homeland and Border Security Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on integrated, whole-of-government policy matters, priorities and strategy in the areas of critical infrastructure protection, e-security, non-proliferation, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, border security and emergency management issues. This Division is divided into the Border, Counter Terrorism and Strategic Planning Branch; and the Emergency Management and Proliferation Issues Branch.

• The Defence, Intelligence and Research Coordination Division provides advice, coordination and leadership on integrated, whole-of-government policy matters, priorities and strategy in the areas of defence, intelligence coordination and cooperation matters, and national security, science and innovation policy and programs. This Division is divided into the Defence Policy Branch; the National Security Science and Technology Branch; and Intelligence Policy Branch.

• • The National Security Science and Technology Branch provides a national focus for science and innovation aimed at enhancing Australia's national security and coordinating the collation and dissemination of national security science and innovation priorities and research outcomes. ^[9]

The International Security Division (ISD) is in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is the international security and foreign intelligence policy and governance coordination entity and headed by a First Assistant Secretary. It is divided into four branches each led by an Assistant Secretary: the Office of the Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism; the Counter-Terrorism Branch; the Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation Branch; and the Strategic Issues and Intelligence Branch.

The National Security and Criminal Justice Group is in the Attorney-General's Department and the policy and governance coordination entity for domestic security and criminal intelligence and is led by a Deputy Secretary. It is divided into six divisions.

• The National Security Resilience and Policy Division is responsible for policy, legislation, advice and programs related to developing resilience to all hazards, including the areas of critical infrastructure protection, electronic and identity security, and protective security policy.^[10]

• The National Security Capability and Development Division is responsible for developing national security capability; coordinating procedures, training, exercises, evaluation, procurement and research and development for all hazards; managing the National CounterTerrorism Committee Administered Fund; delivering training and education; administering grants to volunteer organisations, for disaster mitigation, and Geo-Spatial Capabilities.^[11]

• The National Security Law and Policy Division is responsible for policy, legislation and advice on national security, counterterrorism, chemical security, surveillance devices, telecommunications interception and for delivery of vetting and background checking services which incorporates the Australian Security Vetting Service.^[12]

The National Intelligence Coordination Committee (NICC) is to ensure that Australia's foreign, security and law enforcement intelligence activities are closely aligned and consistent with our national security priorities, and that the national intelligence effort is effectively integrated. It is chaired by the National Security Adviser and contains representation from all intelligence and security agencies. ^{[13] [14]}

• The National Intelligence Collection Management Committee (NICMC) is a subcommittee of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee and is responsible for setting specific requirements and evaluating collection effort against each of the National Intelligence Priorities (NIPs). It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments. ^[15]

• The National Intelligence Open Source Committee (NIOSC) is a subcommittee of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee and is responsible for enhancing the coordination and capabilities of the national intelligence community’s open source efforts. It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments. ^[16]

• The Foreign Intelligence Coordination Committee (FICC) is a subcommittee chaired by the Director-General of the Office of National Assessments with responsibility for foreign intelligence coordination.

The Heads of Intelligence Agencies Meeting (HIAM) brings together a sub-group of the all the national intelligence agencies comprising to consider issues relating specifically to Australia’s foreign intelligence activities. It is chaired by the Director General of the Office of National Assessments and the Deputy Secretary for Defence Intelligence, Security and International Policy attends. ^[17]

Primary entities

• Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
• Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)
• Office of National Assessments (ONA)
• Defence Intelligence and Security Group
  • Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO)
  • Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO)
  • Defence Signals Directorate (DSD)
  • Defence Security Authority (DSA)

Secondary entities

• Australian Army Intelligence Corps (AUSTINT)
• Australian Federal Police Intelligence Division (AFP)
• Australian Crime Commission (ACC)
• Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Intelligence Group

Oversight entities

• Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS)
• Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS)

Legislative bills

• Intelligence Services Act 2001
• Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004

See also

• List of intelligence agencies

References

1. ^ [1] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
2. ^ [2] Attorney-General's Department Australian Government Coordination Counter-terrorism Committees
3. ^ [3] Attorney-General's Department Australia's National Security Agencies
4. ^ [4] Australian Government Directory National Security Committee
5. ^ [5] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
6. ^ [6] Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet National Security and International Policy Group Executive
7. ^ [7] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
8. ^ [8] National Security and International Policy Group Executive
9. ^ [9] National Security Science and Technology Branch
10. ^ [10] Attorney-General's Department organisational structure
11. ^ [11] Attorney-General's Department organisational structure
12. ^ [12] Attorney-General's Department organisational structure
13. ^ [13] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
14. ^ [14] ASIO and the National Intelligence Coordination Committee
15. ^ [15] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
16. ^ [16] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework
17. ^ [17] Office of National Assessments Australia's National Security Framework

External links

• IGIS - Australian Intelligence Community Overview
• ONA - Australian Intelligence Community Agencies, Functions, Accountability and Oversight (2006)
• Security Challenges Vol. 3 No. 4 (11/2007) The Australian Intelligence Community in 2020
• ONA History of the Australian Intelligence Community
• DPMC 2004 Report of the Inquiry into Australian Intelligence Agencies