The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023.
On 29 March 2023 the Minister for Home Affairs wrote to the Committee referring the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023 for the Committee’s review.
The Bill contains a suite of amendments to:
- uplift and harden Australia’s highest-level of security clearance in response to the unprecedented threat from espionage and foreign interference confronting Australia, and
- drive shared initiatives and investments that improve interoperability and burden sharing as the Australian Government delivers critical national security capabilities.
The Bill would enable the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to implement a consistent approach to issuing, maintaining and revoking Australia’s highest-level security clearances that ensures Australia’s most sensitive information, capability and secrets remain protected.
Mr Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS said “Reviewing important national security legislation that, through the high-level access security clearances provide, will affect Australia’s National Security architecture is a key part of the Parliamentary oversight work of the PJCIS. The review will provide assurance that these changes provide a security framework that will last well into the future.”
Submissions are invited by Friday 21 April 2023. The Committee encourages concise submissions. Correspondence addressing individuals’ security clearance issues will not be accepted as submissions to this inquiry.
Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.
Media inquiries
Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP, via Lachlan Hinds
0455 999 677
lachlan.t.hinds@aph.gov.au
For background information
Committee Secretariat, Parliamentary Joint Committee on intelligence and Security
(02) 6277 2360
pjcis@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
