This FlagPost was originally published on 24 July 2018. It has since been amended to reference the provisions of the Privacy Act 1988 relevant to the release of health information by private medical practitioners. As an adjunct task, it has also been updated to reflect developments since its original publication.

This quick guide summarises the history of the concept of an Australian department of homeland security since 2001.

It is now eight years since the Howard Government first committed funds to expanding the Central Office of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in anticipation of an increase in staff numbers, and seven years since it was decided instead that an entirely new building was required. Designed to ‘take its place amongst Australia’s national...

This background note outlines the types of communications data generated by use of the Internet, email and phones, why law enforcement agencies want it retained, and what existing access law enforcement agencies have to such data. The Government’s interest in establishing a data retention scheme appears to date back to at least early 2010 when...

In the months and years following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 on the United States, a number of people suspected of involvement with terrorist organisations or their activities were apprehended in various countries around the world. Many of these people were, and in some cases still are, detained by the United States at...