Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979

Citation

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (ASIO Act) (Oct. 25, 1979) (full-text).

Overview

The Act established the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) as the counterintelligence and security agency of Australia. Established in 1949 by the Prime Minister'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.

Investigations

The Act grants computer access powers to ASIO, if a government Minister (not a judge) is "satisfied there are reasonable grounds for believing that access by the Organisation to data held in a particular computer (the target computer) will substantially assist the collection of intelligence in accordance with the Act in respect of a matter (the security matter) that is important in relation to security."

In addition to copying data relevant to a security matter, ASIO is authorized to add, delete, or alter other data on the target computer if necessary.