Security Committee to hear about intelligence oversight legislation

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold the first public hearing for its review of the Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 this morning..

The committee will hear from government representatives, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and academic William Stoltz, to discuss the Bill’s proposed expansion of intelligence oversight arrangements for the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

The committee’s website has a full program for the hearing, and the hearing will be (audio) broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

PJCIS Chair Peter Khalil MP said, “The committee looks forward to hearing evidence from witnesses to inform its consideration of the Bill. The committee is interested in understanding how the proposed provisions of the Bill will enhance oversight and provide assurance to Australians about the effective operation of the National Intelligence Community.”

On June 22, 2023 the Attorney-General wrote to the committee to refer the Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 for the committee’s review.

The Bill would amend the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and the Intelligence Services Act 2001, mainly to expand the oversight of the IGIS and the PJCIS to include all of the agencies that comprise Australia’s National Intelligence Community.

The Bill would also amend and update various provisions relating to the functions and operation of the PJCIS.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

Public hearing

15 September 2023
9am – 1.30pm AEST
Committee Room 1S3, Parliament House, Canberra; and via videoconference

 

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