Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979

Overview
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (the ASIO Act) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia establishing the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) as the counter-intelligence and security agency of Australia. Established in 1949 by Prime Minister Ben Chifley's Directive for the Establishment and Maintenance of a Security Service under the executive power of the Constitution, the ASIO Act converted the Organisation into a statutory body under the control of the Director-General of Security and responsible to the Attorney-General.