Summary

Responds to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Report of the Inquiry into Potential Reforms of Australia’s National Security Legislation by amending: the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 to: align the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s (ASIO) employment conditions with the Australian Public Service employment framework; modernise ASIO’s warrant-based intelligence collection powers; establish a framework for the conduct of authorised covert intelligence operations; clarify ASIO’s ability to cooperate with the private sector; and provide for certain breaches to be referred to law enforcement agencies for investigation; the Intelligence Services Act 2001 to: enable the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) to collect intelligence on Australian persons involved in activities in relation to its operational security; enable ASIS to cooperate with ASIO without ministerial authorisation when undertaking certain intelligence collection activities; enable ASIS to train certain individuals in the use of weapons and self-defence techniques and provide for a limited exception of these in a controlled environment; extend immunity for actions taken in relation to overseas activities; clarify the authority of the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) to provide assistance; and rename DIGO as the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation and the Defence Signals Directorate as the Australian Signals Directorate; the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and Intelligence Services Act 2001 to create two new offences and update existing offences, and increase penalties, in relation to the protection of intelligence-related information; and 19 Acts to make consequential and technical amendments.