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Intelligence services
NARROWER TERMS
Report
The Pacific Fusion Centre: the challenge of sharing information and intelligence in the Pacific
This report examines the Australian-sponsored Pacific Fusion Centre (PFC), which is due to open permanent offices in Vanuatu later this year.
Report
Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community
This review comprehensively examined the effectiveness of the legislative framework governing the National Intelligence Community, and prepared findings and recommendations for reforms. The review was supported by a Secretariat in the Attorney-General's Department (Australia).
Discussion paper
An Australian intellectual edge for conflict and competition in the 21st century
This paper provides insights into how the Australian Defence Force might apply its knowledge of a changing environment to more comprehensively address gaps in its software framework.
Briefing paper
Addressing Australia's vulnerability to weaponised narratives
In a time of endless globalised information flows, Australia must defend its democratic political discussion.
Report
Oversight of intelligence agencies: a comparison of the 'Five Eyes' nations
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States each have some combination of parliamentary/congressional, independent and judicial oversight of their intelligence agencies, in addition to accountability through the executive branch. However, there are differences in the nature and scope of each of...
Report
The 2017 independent review of intelligence: views from The Strategist
The articles reprinted in this report give a range of perspectives on the recent Australian Intelligence Community (AIC) review and its recommendations.
Report
2017 Independent intelligence review
This review examined the environment in which the intelligence community operates, and consider how effectively it serves Australia’s national interests.
Audio podcast
Signals intelligence and counter-terrorism
For this episode of the podcast Sub Rosa, Andrew interviewed former GCHQ employee David Wells about counter-terrorism. GCHQ is the UK government’s signals intelligence agency, similar to the United States National Security Agency (NSA) or the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). The interview discusses the nature...
Audio interview
Australia's decisions to go to war should be made in Parliament: former army chief
Peter Leahy, director of the National Security Institute, was chief of the Australian Army when it went to war in Iraq in 2003. He speaks with Kim Landers about the findings of the Chilcot report into the UK's presence in Iraq and about Australia's role...
Report
Opportunities abound abroad: optimising our criminal intelligence system overseas
Criminal intelligence (CrimInt) is so useful in serious criminal investigations that it’s difficult to envisage a situation where it shouldn’t be sought and used if it’s available. This special report argues that Australia’s current arrangements for gathering and disseminating CrimInt overseas are suboptimal. While additional...
Report
The report of the Iraq inquiry
In this Executive Summary, the Inquiry sets out its conclusions on a number of issues that have been central to the controversies surrounding Iraq. In addition to the factors that shaped the decision to take military action in March 2003 without support for an authorising...
Report
Australia’s participation in the Pine Gap enterprise
Australian participation in the operation of Pine Gap is effectively complete, with access to all areas of the base except the US National Cryptographic Room. The senior Australian Defence officials who negotiated the original implementing agreement with the CIA sought and obtained access to all...
Book
Geography, power, strategy and defence policy
Paul Dibb AM has had an extraordinary career. He enjoys an international scholarly reputation of the highest order, while at the same time he has done much distinguished public service. He was a pioneer in moving back and forth between posts in government departments, notably...
Report
The antennas of Pine Gap
Antennas are the most readily available and visible evidence of the existence, character, and size of signals intelligence facilities that operate or monitor space systems. Coupled with data on the timing of developments in US geosynchronous satellite programs, the timing of antenna installation now permits...
Report
Report on the impact on journalists of section 35P of the ASIO Act
This report argues that section 35P of the ASIO Act is not justified, and that it does not contain adequate safeguards for protecting the rights of outsiders and is not proportionate to the threat of terrorism or the threat to national security.
Report
Chinese investment in the Port of Darwin: a strategic risk for Australia?
The Port of Darwin lease highlights an urgent need to review how Australia takes account of its national security interests in making decisions about foreign investment.
Report
Managing operations at Pine Gap
The management of operations at the Pine Gap facility has become increasingly complex as the functions of the station have expanded, the number of agencies involved has grown, and the demands of a wider range of ‘users’ or ‘customers’ for the provision of ‘actionable intelligence’...
Report
The SIGINT satellites of Pine Gap: conception, development and in orbit
Pine Gap’s initial and still principal importance to the United States lies in its role as a ground control and processing station for geosynchronous signals intelligence satellites. Nine geosynchronous SIGINT (signals intelligence) satellites have been operated by Pine Gap over the past 45 years. That...
Report
The higher management of Pine Gap
The higher management of Pine Gap is and has always been an entirely American affair. To understand Pine Gap today, it is necessary to understand the organisations of the US intelligence community and military concerned with the acquisition of technical intelligence, and their politics over...
Report
The corporatisation of Pine Gap
The Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap, located just outside the town of Alice Springs in Central Australia and managed by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), is one of the largest U.S. technical intelligence collection facilities in the world. The corporate presence at Pine Gap...