The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today tabled its Advisory Report on the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 14 March 2024

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today tabled its Advisory Report on the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023. The Committee’s unanimous report recommended that the Bill pass and made four recommendations for the Government’s consideration including: assessing the existing legislation and procedures and whether they sufficiently cover working or training for paramilitary organisations and militias by former defence personnel providing the Minister for Defence with the ability to determine by legislative instrument classes or categories of non-former Defence members that are not required to apply for an authorisation – for example, in cases where a company has been approved to provide goods under the Defence Export Control (DEC) arrangements assessing how existing legislation and procedures covering former National Intelligence Community officers and their work for foreign governments should be strengthened, and address the need for further legislation The Bill would amend the Defence Act 1903 to regulate the work that certain former defence staff members can perform for or on behalf of a military organisation or government body of a relevant foreign country, without a foreign work authorisation. Mr Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS, said “Once passed, this Bill will deal with the potential of former defence staff members revealing sensitive defence information and placing Australia’s national security at risk. In addition it provides our allies with more confidence that securing sensitive military information is at the forefront of the Australian Government’s national security thinking” 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.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hear evidence from a range of expert witnesses for the Review of the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 21 February 2024

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hear evidence tomorrow from a range of expert witnesses for the Review of the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023. The Committee will hear from a number of witnesses, including the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, and key government agencies: the Department of Defence and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.  “The Military Secrets Bill will work to regulate the work that certain former defence staff members can perform for or on behalf of a military organisation or government body of a relevant foreign country. The Committee will closely examine the Military Secrets Bill to ensure that it appropriately manages the potential risk of former defence staff members revealing sensitive defence information and placing Australia’s national security at risk,” said PJCIS Chair Mr Peter Khalil MP. “The public hearing will allow the PJCIS to hear from industry groups regarding its potential impacts. The Committee will then test this evidence with the Department of Defence who would administer this legislation and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation,” Mr Khalil said. Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website. Public Hearing Details Thursday, 22 February 2024 10:00AM – 12:15PM (AEDT) Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. 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 or 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 this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has commenced a review of the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023.

Media release issue date: Monday, 18 September 2023

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review of the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023. The Bill would amend the Defence Act 1903 to regulate the work that certain former defence staff members can perform for or on behalf of a military organisation or government body of a relevant foreign country, without a foreign work authorisation. The Bill also regulates the training that Australian citizens and permanent residents may provide to relevant foreign militaries or governments without a foreign work authorisation. The Minister has the power to grant foreign work authorisations and to refuse, cancel, suspend or vary them. ‘Relevant foreign countries’ are any countries not excluded by the Minister in a legislative instrument. Mr Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS, said “Reviewing legislation is an important aspect of the PJCIS’ role and the Committee will look at the Military Secrets Bill to ensure that it appropriately deals with the potential of former defence staff members revealing sensitive defence information and placing Australia’s national security at risk.” Submissions are invited by Thursday 16 November 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 this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.