Inquiry into Aust. security services

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 8

Inquiry into Aust. security services

NZPA Sydney Australian security and intelligence organisations are at present undergoing a more extensive investigation than that recently carried out into the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service by the Chief Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles). A Royal Commission has now provided a preliminary report of its findings to the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) after a two-year study of the country’s three main security organisations. The chairman of the commission, Mr Justice Hope, is understood to have consulted Sir Guy during the course of the inquiry. The organisations under scrutiny are the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation. the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and the Joint Intelligence Organisation.

The A. 5.1.0. is responsible for internal aecurity and is

answerable to the AttorneyGeneral (Mr Robert Ellicott), the A.S.I.S. looks after overseas intelligence operations and comes under the control of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Andrew Peacock); and the J. 1.0. concentrates on military intelligence and is responsible to the Minister of Defence (Mr James Killen). Details of the commission’s findings are at present secret, and it has been reported that Mr Justice Hope wants it kept that way, but that Mr Fraser — as was the case with the New Zealand report — favours releasing at least some details to the public. Speculation on the outcome of the inquiry favours a recommendation for sweeping changes which would lead to the three organisations being brought under one independent authority independent of political control.