Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001

Administered by Attorney-General's Department

Legislation au C2004A00929 In force Act

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001

 

No. 153, 2001

 

 

 

 

Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001

 

No. 153, 2001

 

 

 

 

An Act to deal with matters consequential on the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title...................................

2 Commencement...............................

3 Schedule(s)..................................

4 Regulations..................................

Schedule 1—Provisions relating to the establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD

Part 1—Amendments

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979

Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990

Part 2—Transitionals

Schedule 2—InspectorGeneral of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

Schedule 3—Miscellaneous amendments

Acts Interpretation Act 1901

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

Freedom of Information Act 1982

 

Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001

No. 153, 2001

 

 

 

An Act to deal with matters consequential on the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, and for related purposes

[Assented to 1 October 2001]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001.

2  Commencement

  This Act commences at the same time as the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

4  Regulations

  The GovernorGeneral may make regulations providing for matters of a transitional nature (including any saving or application provision) arising out of the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, or the amendments made by this Act.

 

 

Schedule 1—Provisions relating to the establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD

Part 1—Amendments

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979

1  Section 4

Insert:

Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD means the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD established under the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

2  Subsection 8A(6)

Omit “Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation”, substitute “Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD”.

3  Subsection 92(1)

Omit “Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation”, substitute “Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD”.

4  Part VA

Repeal the Part.

Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990

5  Schedule 4 (table row relating to the Chair, Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation)

Repeal the row.

6  Schedule 4 (after the table row relating to the Chair, Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority)

Insert:

 

Chair, Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD

6,310


Part 2—Transitionals

7  Definitions

In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears:

commencement day means the day on which Part 1 commences.

new committee means the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD established under the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

old committee means the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation constituted under Part VA.

Part VA means Part VA of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, as in force immediately before the commencement day.

transfer time means the time at which the new committee is first established.

8  Continuation of old committee

Despite the repeal of Part VA:

 (a) the old Committee continues in existence until the transfer time, under the name it had immediately before the commencement day, as if the amendments made by Part 1 had not been made; and

 (b) the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990 continue to operate in respect of the old committee until the transfer time as if the amendments made by Part 1 had not been made.

9  Records etc.

At the transfer time, any records that were in the custody, or under the control, of the old committee immediately before the transfer time are transferred to the new committee by force of this item.


Schedule 2—Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

 

1  Subsection 17(9)

Omit “, before completing the inquiry,”.

2  Subsection 19(2)

Repeal the subsection.

3  Subsection 26(1)

Omit “3”, substitute “5”.

4  After subsection 35(2A)

Insert:

 (2B) The InspectorGeneral must include in a report prepared under subsection (1) the InspectorGeneral’s comments on the extent of compliance by ASIS and DSD, during the year to which the report relates, with rules made under section 15 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

Note: The rules referred to in subsection (2B) regulate the communication and retention of intelligence information.


Schedule 3—Miscellaneous amendments

 

Acts Interpretation Act 1901

1  Subsection 34C(8)

After “Organisation”, insert “, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service”.

Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

2  Paragraph (d) of Schedule 1

Before “Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979”, insert:

 

  Intelligence Services Act 2001

Freedom of Information Act 1982

3  Schedule 3

Insert in its appropriate alphabetical position, determined on a letterbyletter basis:

 

Intelligence Services Act 2001, subsection 41(1)

(128/01)


 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 27 June 2001

Senate on 24 September 2001]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001, enacted by the Parliament of Australia and assented to on 1 October 2001, addresses the consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001. This Act makes necessary amendments and repeals to various existing Acts to align with the new framework established by the Intelligence Services Act 2001, particularly in relation to the oversight and operation of intelligence agencies such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), and the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD). The policy objective is to ensure a coherent and integrated legislative approach to the oversight and management of these agencies, including the establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD. The Act also includes provisions for the continuation of existing committees and the transfer of records to the new oversight body. The Act enables the Governor-General to make regulations for transitional matters related to the Intelligence Services Act 2001, ensuring a smooth implementation of the new legislative framework. By specifying amendments to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, the Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990, and other related Acts, the Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001 facilitates the effective operation of the new intelligence oversight regime.

Scope and Application

The Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001 is designed to address matters that arise as a consequence of the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, thereby ensuring a smooth transition and integration of the new intelligence framework within the existing legal structure. This Act applies to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and the Defence Signals Directorate, as well as to various legislative amendments necessitated by the establishment of these entities. It operates on a national level within Australia, covering both Commonwealth and state jurisdictions to the extent required by the consequential amendments. The Act allows for the Governor-General to make regulations for transitional matters arising from the new Act, thereby extending its application through subordinate instruments. Notably, the Act does not itself lay out specific exclusions or exemptions but rather modifies existing legislation to accommodate the new intelligence services framework, ensuring consistency and compliance with the overarching objectives of the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

Key Provisions

The Intelligence Services (Consequential Provisions) Act 2001 primarily addresses the transitional and consequential amendments required by the enactment of the Intelligence Services Act 2001. It includes provisions for the establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD, and makes various amendments to existing legislation to align with the new intelligence services framework (Schedule 1). Other consequential amendments are made to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, and miscellaneous amendments to the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, and the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Schedules 2 and 3). The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the relevant parties. For example, it mandates the continuation of the old Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation until the new Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD is established (Schedule 1, Item 8). Additionally, it requires the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to include specific comments in their reports regarding the compliance of ASIS and DSD with rules made under the new Intelligence Services Act 2001 (Schedule 2, Item 2B). The Act also requires the transfer of records from the old committee to the new committee at the time of the new committee's establishment (Schedule 1, Item 9). The Act does not explicitly state any specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach within its primary text. However, the consequential amendments and the establishment of the new framework suggest that non-compliance with the new provisions could lead to legal consequences under the broader intelligence services legislation or related Acts. For instance, failure to adhere to the rules set out in the Intelligence Services Act 2001 could potentially lead to sanctions or legal action under that Act. The precise penalties would depend on the specific provisions of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 and any regulations made under it.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
National Security Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Repeal & Amendment
Transitional Provisions
Prohibited Conduct

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.