Committee supports Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Bill

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has today presented its Advisory Report on the Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017.

The Bill amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010, Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and Intelligence Services Act 2001 to give effect to Ministerial powers following establishment of the Home Affairs portfolio on 20 December 2017.

The amendments include a heightened and strengthened oversight role for the Attorney-General.

The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Hastie MP said ‘the Committee is pleased to support the Attorney-General’s oversight role as proposed in the Bill".

The Committee made four recommendations in its report.

First, upon considering evidence from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, the Committee recommended that the Bill be amended so that only the Prime Minister has the power to direct the Inspector-General to undertake an inquiry under section 9 of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986.

Second, to more clearly reflect the Government’s intent concerning the Attorney-General’s oversight role, the Committee recommended that explicit reference to the Attorney-General be included in the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010 and Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986.

The Committee noted that 33 other Acts will be amended to implement the Home Affairs portfolio.

The Committee considered these amendments should be brought forward as soon as possible and, third, recommended that amendments to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to facilitate the Attorney-General’s ongoing role be introduced to the Parliament prior to the conclusion of debate on this Bill.

Finally, subject to implementation of these recommendations, the Committee recommended that the Bill be passed.

The report is available on the Committee’s website at www.aph.gov.au/pjcis.

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