Leslie Massey
Australia's foreign intelligence agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), was formed in 1952, but its existence remained secret within the government and to the public until 1972. ASIS is responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world, and reports to the minister for foreign affairs. While the Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004 removed ISA prohibitions on ASIS operatives carrying firearms for protection, there is no evidence to suggest that Australian intelligence agencies are involved in assassinations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Existence of assassins in the Australian Government | No official evidence |
| Australian Security Intelligence Agencies | Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australian Signals Directorate, Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation |
| Oversight of Intelligence Agencies | Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD; Royal Commissions; Ministerial Statements; Attorney-General |
| Rules of Engagement | Cannot conceal identity in civilian clothes; cannot use prohibited weapons; must treat detainees humanely and provide access to courts; must follow rules of engagement |
| Accountability | Limited transparency due to nature of work; legal and accountability questions arise in covert operations |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is Australia's domestic intelligence and national security agency. ASIO is responsible for protecting Australia and Australians from threats to their security, including espionage, sabotage, politically-motivated violence, terrorism, and attacks on the national defence system. ASIO is a primary entity of the Australian Intelligence Community and is comparable to the United States' FBI or the British MI5. ASIO's authority relates exclusively to domestic intelligence and intervention, but it may also take part in domestic intelligence gathering relating to foreign threats in collaboration with other agencies like the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) and the Australian Signals Directorate.
ASIO has a broad range of surveillance powers to collect human and signals intelligence. It can collect foreign intelligence within Australia if a warrant is issued by the Attorney-General. ASIO works closely with foreign and domestic intelligence and security agencies from other nations and has established liaison relationships with 311 authorities in 120 countries as of 2008. ASIO reports to the Attorney-General, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, and the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. It is also subject to independent review by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.
The organisation was established in 1949 by Robert Frederick Bird Wake, one of ASIO's foundation directors, and its existence was kept secret within the government and from the public until 1972, when it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph. ASIO is regulated under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and is overseen by the Director-General of Security, who assumed office in September 2019. ASIO's headquarters are in Canberra, and it had an average of 1,980 staff members in 2018.
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Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is Australia's foreign intelligence agency, responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence. ASIS was formed in 1952, but its existence remained secret within the government and to the public until 1972, when it was revealed by The Daily Telegraph.
ASIS is a primary entity of the Australian Intelligence Community and is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It has its headquarters in Canberra and its director-general, currently Kerri Hartland, reports to the minister for foreign affairs. The service is comparable to the CIA in the US and MI6 in the UK.
ASIS's role, as outlined in its Charter of 15 December 1954, is to "obtain and distribute secret intelligence, and to plan for and conduct special operations as may be required". It was expressly required to "operate outside Australian territory" and came under the control of the Minister for External Affairs. A Ministerial Directive in 1958 indicated that its special operations role included conducting "special political action".
ASIS works closely with other members of the National Intelligence Community (NIC) and has close links to partner agencies and foreign intelligence services. The Intelligence Services Amendment Act of 2004 removed prohibitions on ASIS operatives carrying firearms for protection and allows the agency to work with foreign intelligence agencies in planning paramilitary and violent operations, provided ASIS is not involved in the execution of these operations.
ASIS employs Australians from diverse backgrounds with various skills, from accountants to academics, lawyers to locksmiths. The organisation promotes diversity, embraces change, and encourages innovative ideas, with a strong sense of national pride and loyalty.
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Covert missions for counter-terrorism
Australia's counter-terrorism strategy is based on partnerships between all levels of government, communities, and the private sector. The Australian government works closely with international partners to achieve its security and counter-terrorism objectives. The Australian Federal Police are responsible for investigating and preventing terrorism, and the country has a National Security Hotline for the public to report potential terrorist activity.
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is the foreign intelligence agency of the Commonwealth of Australia, responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world. ASIS was formed in 1952 but was not revealed to the public until 1972. ASIS is comparable to the CIA in the US and MI6 in the UK, and it works with these agencies in planning paramilitary and violent operations, although it is not involved in their execution.
A 2020 report by ABC News raised questions about the potential involvement of Australians in covert missions for a multinational counter-terrorism centre in Paris, known as Alliance Base. The report stated that little was known about the operations, including whether they involved killing suspected terrorists or whether Australians or their government were involved. It is important to note that, as of the report's publication, there was no official role for Australian forces in assassinations, and it would be contrary to their rules of engagement.
While the legality of Alliance Base's operations is unclear, it underscores the broader question of when it may be lawful to kill suspected terrorists. This question has been the subject of debate, with some arguing that certain conditions, such as the use of civilian clothes or prohibited weapons, may violate legal and ethical boundaries. However, the public's right to safety and protection from terrorism must also be considered.
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Accountability and legality of operations
The Australian government has several intelligence agencies, including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate, and the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation. These agencies are responsible for gathering intelligence, both domestically and internationally, to protect Australia's national security.
The Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004 allows ASIS operatives to carry firearms for protection and permits them to work with foreign intelligence agencies like the CIA or MI6 in planning paramilitary and violent operations, provided they are not involved in the execution. The Act also mandates the establishment of a parliamentary oversight committee to regulate the handling of intelligence information concerning Australian persons.
ASIO's authority is limited to domestic intelligence and intervention, although it can collect foreign intelligence within Australia with a warrant. ASIO does not disclose details of its activities or the identities of its officers due to the sensitive nature of its work. However, it maintains that it has established operational measures to ensure the legality of its operations.
While there have been allegations and reports of Australian involvement in covert missions and assassinations, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts, these remain unconfirmed. The legality and accountability of such operations depend on various factors, including who is being targeted, who authorised the action, and whether it was carried out lawfully to ensure public safety.
In summary, while Australia possesses intelligence agencies with broad powers, their activities are subject to legal and parliamentary oversight. The involvement of Australians or their government in assassinations is speculative, and the agencies maintain that they operate within the boundaries of the law to ensure national security.
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ASIO and Australian Government legality claims
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is a non-executive, advisory intelligence security agency that operates within Australia. ASIO's authority relates exclusively to domestic intelligence and intervention, and it may also take part in domestic intelligence gathering relating to foreign threats. The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), on the other hand, is the foreign intelligence agency of the Commonwealth of Australia, responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world.
ASIO's operations are shrouded in secrecy, and the identities of its officers are protected by law. However, it is known that ASIO officers are prohibited from causing significant loss of, or serious damage to property. ASIO and the Australian Government maintain that measures are in place to ensure the legality of ASIO operations. For example, the Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004 removed ISA prohibitions on ASIS operatives carrying firearms for protection and allows ASIS to work with foreign intelligence agencies in planning paramilitary and violent operations as long as ASIS is not involved in the execution.
The legality of ASIO and ASIS operations has been questioned on several occasions. In the 1960s and 1970s, ASIO faced accusations of withholding information about a series of bombings carried out by a far-right Croatian militia on the consulate of Communist Yugoslavia in Australia. In 1974 and 1983, the Hope Royal Commission was appointed to conduct a review of Australian security and intelligence services, and in 1992, Prime Minister Paul Keating commissioned a review of the impact of changing international circumstances on the roles and priorities of Australian intelligence agencies. More recently, in 2013, ABC News claimed that China stole blueprints to the ASIO headquarters, raising concerns about foreign espionage.
While there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the Australian government employs assassins, the activities of ASIO and ASIS, particularly in collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies, remain largely opaque to the public.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government has an intelligence agency called the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). ASIS is responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world, primarily through human intelligence. ASIS is allowed to carry firearms for protection and can work with foreign intelligence agencies like the CIA and MI6 in planning paramilitary and violent operations as long as they are not involved in the execution of these operations. However, there is no official confirmation or public knowledge of the Australian government employing assassins or engaging in assassinations.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is subject to oversight by the Australian government, which establishes operational measures to ensure the legality of ASIO's operations. ASIO's activities are also reviewed by Royal Commissions, such as the Hope Royal Commission, which found ASIS to be "singularly well run and well managed." Additionally, the Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004 requires the responsible minister to make rules regulating the communication and retention of intelligence information concerning Australian persons and provides for parliamentary oversight through the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS, and DSD.
There have been controversies and allegations surrounding Australian intelligence agencies. For example, in the 1970s, there were accusations that ASIO withheld information about Croatian far-right militia bombings of the Communist Yugoslavian consulate. In 2013, there were suspicions of Chinese espionage, with Sheri Yan and Roger Uren, a former Assistant Secretary, investigated for spying for China. Additionally, in 2010, there were reports of Australians possibly being involved in covert missions for a multinational counter-terrorism centre in Paris, raising questions about the legality and accountability of such operations.
