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Appendix G – Letter from Mr Roger Wilkins AO, Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department, to the Hon Anthony Byrne MP

12/7195-04

 

17 October 2012

 

The Hon Anthony Byrne MP

Chair

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

Dear Mr Byrne

Telecommunications Data- Departmental View

During the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security's inquiry into potential national security reforms a large number of submissions raised concerns regarding the proposed establishment of a data retention regime, specifically in relation to what information may be being considered for inclusion in such a regime.

While the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (the TIA Act) does not contain a definition of telecommunications data (also referred to as metadata, communications data and communications associated data), the Department has prepared a document which outlines what types of data the Department considers to fall within the term telecommunications data.

This document was prepared for the Committee to assist in the Committee's consideration of the issues before the inquiry; however I note that this document was tabled on 16 October 2012 as part of the Departments evidence to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Supplementary Budget estimates hearing.

I have attached the document for the Committee's consideration and note that the contents of this document have not been endorsed by the Government.

The action officer for this matter is Catherine Smith who can be contacted on 6141 2900.

Yours sincerely


Roger Wilkins AO

 

Definition of Telecommunications Data

Also known as Metadata, Communications Data and Communications Associated Data

This data falls into 2 categories:

1. Information that allows a communication to occur
2. Information about the parties to the communications

Relates to communications for:

1. telephones- both fixed and mobile
2. Internet

Information that allows a communication to occur:

Information about the parties to the communications is information about the person who owns the service. This would include:

 

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