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AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION ACT 1979

Table of Provisions

PART I--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Short title  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Repeal  
  • 4 Definitions  
  • 4A Application of the Criminal Code  
  • 5 Extension of Act to external Territories  
  • 5A Copies of certain notices to be given to Inspector - General  
  • 5B Substitution of references to the Attorney - General  

PART II--THE--ORGANISATION AND THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

  • 6 Continuance of Organisation  
  • 7 Director - General  
  • 8 Control of Organisation  
  • 8A Guidelines  
  • 9 Term of office of Director - General  
  • 10 Remuneration and allowances of Director - General  
  • 11 Leave of absence  
  • 12 Resignation  
  • 13 Termination of appointment  
  • 14 Acting Director - General  
  • 15 Appointment of a Judge as Director - General  
  • 16 Delegation  

PART III--FUNCTIONS--AND POWERS OF ORGANISATION

Division 1--General

  • 17 Functions of Organisation  
  • 17AA Fees for advice and other services  
  • 17A Act not concerned with lawful dissent etc.  
  • 18 Communication of intelligence etc.  
  • 18A Unauthorised dealing with records  
  • 18B Unauthorised recording of information or matter  
  • 18C Offences against section 18, 18A or 18B--general rules  
  • 18D Offences against section 18, 18A or 18B--IGIS officials  
  • 19 Co - operation with other authorities in connection with performance of Organisation's functions  
  • 19A Co - operation with intelligence and law enforcement agencies etc. in connection with performance of their functions  
  • 20 Special responsibility of Director - General in relation to functions of Organisation  
  • 21 Leader of Opposition to be kept informed on security matters  
  • 21A Voluntary assistance provided to the Organisation  

Division 2--Special powers

Subdivision A--Preliminary
  • 22 Interpretation  
  • 23 Requesting information or documents from operators of aircraft or vessels  
  • 24 Exercise of authority under warrant etc.  
  • Subdivision B--Search warrants
  • 25 Search warrants  
  • 25AA Conduct of ordinary or frisk search under search warrant  
  • Subdivision C--Computer access warrants
  • 25A Computer access warrant  
  • Subdivision D--Use of surveillance devices
  • 26 Issue of surveillance device warrants  
  • 26A Requirements for surveillance device warrants  
  • 26B What a surveillance device warrant authorises  
  • 26C Use etc. of listening device without warrant  
  • 26D Use etc. of optical surveillance device without warrant  
  • 26E Use etc. of tracking device without warrant or internal authorisation  
  • 26F Director - General may determine that certain provisions do not apply to specified ASIO affiliates  
  • Subdivision DA--Use of tracking devices under internal authorisation
  • 26G Use of tracking devices under internal authorisation  
  • 26H Requirements for internal authorisations  
  • 26J What an internal authorisation authorises  
  • 26K Certain acts not authorised  
  • 26L Recovery of tracking devices  
  • 26M Exercise of authority under internal authorisations  
  • 26N Variation of internal authorisations  
  • 26P Discontinuance of action before expiration of internal authorisation  
  • 26Q Register of internal authorisations  
  • 26R Issue of warrants for recovery of tracking devices  
  • Subdivision E--Inspection of postal and other articles
  • 27 Inspection of postal articles  
  • 27AA Inspection of delivery service articles  
  • Subdivision F--Foreign intelligence
  • 27A Warrants for the performance of functions under paragraph 17(1)(e)  
  • 27B Performance of other functions under paragraph 17(1)(e)  
  • Subdivision G--Identified person warrants
  • 27C Issue of identified person warrants  
  • 27D Authority under identified person warrant--search of premises and persons  
  • 27E Authority under identified person warrant--computer access  
  • 27F Authority under identified person warrant--surveillance devices  
  • 27G Authority under identified person warrant--inspection of postal articles  
  • 27H Authority under identified person warrant--inspection of delivery articles  
  • 27J Authority under identified person warrants--general rules  
  • Subdivision H--General provisions relating to warrants and authorisations
  • 28 Request for warrant to specify grounds  
  • 29 Issue of certain warrants by Director - General in emergency  
  • 29A Variation of warrants issued under this Division  
  • 30 Discontinuance of action before expiration of warrant  
  • 31 Certain records obtained under a warrant to be destroyed  
  • 31A Notification requirements in relation to the use of force under warrant  
  • 32 Certain action in relation to requests and warrants  
  • 33 Relationship with other laws  
  • 34 Director - General to report to Attorney - General--general  
  • 34AAA Director - General to report to Attorney - General--concealment of access  
  • 34AAB Director - General to report to Attorney - General--internal authorisations to use tracking devices  
  • 34AAC Evidentiary certificates  
  • Subdivision J--Assistance relating to access to data
  • 34AAD Person with knowledge of a computer or a data storage device to assist access to data  

Division 3--Compulsory questioning powers

Subdivision A--General provisions
  • 34A Definitions  
  • 34AA Meaning of minor's representative  
  • 34AB Meaning of questioning material and subject  
  • 34AC Meaning of resolved  
  • 34AD Prescribed authorities  
  • 34AE Status of prescribed authorities  
  • 34AF Written statement of procedures  
  • 34AG Humane treatment of subject of questioning warrant  
  • Subdivision B--Questioning warrants
  • 34B Request for questioning warrant  
  • 34BA Test for issue of questioning warrant--persons who are at least 18  
  • 34BB Test for issue of questioning warrant--persons who are at least 14  
  • 34BC Warrant has no effect if person under 14  
  • 34BD What a questioning warrant authorises  
  • 34BE Other things that may be authorised in questioning warrant  
  • 34BF Requirements for questioning warrant  
  • 34BG Variation of questioning warrant  
  • 34BH Notification requirements in relation to questioning warrant  
  • Subdivision C--Apprehension and search powers etc.
  • 34C Police officer may apprehend subject of questioning warrant in certain circumstances  
  • 34CA Entering premises to apprehend subject  
  • 34CB Communications while apprehended  
  • 34CC Power to conduct search of apprehended subject of questioning warrant  
  • 34CD Use of force in apprehending or searching subject  
  • 34CE Power to remove, retain and copy materials etc.  
  • Subdivision D--Matters relating to questioning under questioning warrants
  • 34D Screening of persons  
  • 34DA Prohibition on possessing certain things during questioning  
  • 34DB Questioning under a questioning warrant  
  • 34DC Prescribed authority must explain certain matters  
  • 34DD Additional requirements for prescribed authorities in relation to minor questioning warrants  
  • 34DE Directions while subject is before prescribed authority for questioning  
  • 34DF Directions in relation to confidentiality  
  • 34DG Direction that persons under 14 not be questioned  
  • 34DH Other matters relating to the functions and powers of prescribed authorities  
  • 34DI Complaints while appearing before prescribed authority for questioning  
  • 34DJ Permitted questioning time  
  • 34DK Extra permitted questioning time if interpreter present  
  • 34DL Time that is not questioning time  
  • 34DM Suspension of questioning etc. in response to concern of Inspector - General of Intelligence and Security  
  • 34DN Interpreter provided at request of prescribed authority  
  • 34DO Interpreter provided at request of subject  
  • 34DP Video recording of procedures  
  • Subdivision E--Particular uses or disclosures of questioning material and derivative material
  • 34E Obtaining derivative material  
  • 34EA Disclosing questioning material to prosecutors of the subject  
  • 34EB Disclosing derivative material to prosecutors of the subject  
  • 34EC Court's powers to order disclosure and to ensure a fair trial  
  • 34ED Certain material may always be disclosed to prosecutors of the subject  
  • 34EE Other matters about prosecutors and subjects  
  • 34EF Proceeds of crime authorities and questioning under a questioning warrant  
  • Subdivision F--Lawyers and minor's representatives
  • 34F Person specified in warrant may contact lawyer or minor's representative  
  • 34FA Questioning in absence of lawyer for subject  
  • 34FB Directions in relation to lawyers for subjects of adult questioning warrants  
  • 34FC Directions in relation to lawyers for subjects of minor questioning warrants  
  • 34FD Directions in relation to minor's representatives  
  • 34FE Lawyer may request copy of warrant  
  • 34FF Involvement of lawyers  
  • 34FG Conduct of minor's representatives  
  • 34FH Lawyers' access to information for proceedings relating to warrant  
  • 34FI Law relating to legal professional privilege not affected  
  • Subdivision G--Offences
  • 34G Surrender of travel documents by person in relation to whom questioning warrant is sought  
  • 34GA Person in relation to whom questioning warrant is requested must not leave Australia without permission  
  • 34GB Surrender of travel documents by subject of questioning warrant  
  • 34GC Subject of questioning warrant must not leave Australia without permission  
  • 34GD Giving information and producing things etc.  
  • 34GE Offences of contravening safeguards  
  • 34GF Secrecy relating to warrants and questioning  
  • Subdivision H--Complaints, reporting and records
  • 34H Complaints and information about contravention of procedural statement  
  • 34HA Providing reports to the Attorney - General  
  • 34HB Providing information to the Inspector - General  
  • 34HC Destruction of certain records obtained under warrant  
  • Subdivision I--Miscellaneous
  • 34J Discontinuance of action before cessation of warrant  
  • 34JA Certain functions and powers not affected  
  • 34JB IGIS official may be present at questioning or apprehension  
  • 34JC Rules of Court about proceedings connected with warrants  
  • 34JD Jurisdiction of State and Territory courts excluded  
  • 34JE Financial assistance  
  • 34JF Cessation of effect of Division  

Division 4--Special intelligence operations

  • 35A Relationship to other laws and matters  
  • 35B Applications for authorities to conduct special intelligence operations  
  • 35C Granting of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35D Contents of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35E Commencement and duration of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35F Variation of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35G Cancellation of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35H Effect of special intelligence operation authorities  
  • 35J Defect in a special intelligence operation authority  
  • 35K Immunity from liability for special intelligence conduct during special intelligence operations  
  • 35L Requirements for warrants etc. not affected  
  • 35M Effect of being unaware of variation or cancellation of special intelligence operation authority  
  • 35N Protection from criminal responsibility for certain ancillary conduct  
  • 35P Unauthorised disclosure of information  
  • 35PA Notifications by Director - General  
  • 35Q Reports by the Director - General  
  • 35R Evidence relating to granting of special intelligence operation authority  

PART IV--SECURITY--ASSESSMENTS

Division 1--Preliminary

  • 35 Interpretation  
  • 36 Part not to apply to certain assessments  
  • 36A Part not to apply to security vetting and security clearance related activities  

Division 2--Furnishing of security assessments

  • 37 Security assessments  
  • 38 Person to be notified of assessment  
  • 38A Notification where assessment relates to Telecommunications Act or directions under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act  
  • 39 Effect of preliminary advice by Organisation  
  • 40 Assessments for State purposes  

Division 4--Review of security assessments

  • 54 Applications to Tribunal  
  • 61 Effect of findings  
  • 64 Restriction on further assessments after review  
  • 65 Reference of certain matters to Tribunal by Attorney - General  
  • 81 Secrecy  

PART IVA--SECURITY--VETTING AND SECURITY CLEARANCE RELATED ACTIVITIES

Division 1--Preliminary

Division 2--Security vetting and security clearance related decisions

  • 82C Security vetting and security clearance related activities  
  • 82D Director - General's powers, functions and duties  
  • 82E Communications by Organisation to another Commonwealth security vetting agency  
  • 82F Communications by Organisation to State security vetting agency  
  • 82G Statement of grounds for prejudicial security clearance suitability assessments  

Division 3--Review of certain security clearance decisions and prejudicial security clearance suitability assessments

Subdivision A--Internal review of certain security clearance decisions
  • 82H Internally reviewable decisions  
  • 82J Notification of internally reviewable decision  
  • 82K Application for internal review of decision  
  • 82L Decision on internal review  
  • Subdivision B--Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of certain security clearance decisions and security clearance suitability assessments
  • 83 Externally reviewable decisions  
  • 83A Notification of prejudicial security clearance suitability assessment that is an externally reviewable decision  
  • 83B Applications to Administrative Appeals Tribunal  
  • 83C Statement of grounds for security clearance decision  
  • 83D Effect of findings  
  • 83E Conclusive certificates  
  • Subdivision C--Review by an independent reviewer
  • 83EA Independently reviewable decisions  
  • 83EB Application for independent review of decision  
  • 83EC Director - General to provide information to independent reviewer  
  • 83ED Independent review of decision  
  • 83EE Director - General's consideration of independent reviewer's opinion  
  • 83EF Attorney - General may engage independent reviewers  

Division 4--Other matters relating to review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal

  • 83F Reference of certain matters to Administrative Appeals Tribunal by Attorney - General  

PART V--ASIO--EMPLOYEES ETC.

  • 84 Employees of the Organisation  
  • 85 Consultants and contractors  
  • 86 Secondment of ASIO employees  
  • 87 Secondment of persons to the Organisation  
  • 88 Applicability of principles of the Public Service Act 1999  
  • 89 Voluntary moves to APS  
  • 90 Regulations relating to employment of persons  
  • 91 Application of Crimes Act  
  • 92 Publication of identity of ASIO employee or ASIO affiliate  

PART VI--MISCELLANEOUS

  • 93 Offences  
  • 94 Annual report  
  • 95 Regulations  

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