The Australian Government has made changes to functions overseen by the Attorney-General's Department and Department of Home Affairs. These changes involve the transfers of:

  • identity and biometrics functions into the Attorney-General's Department
  • protective security policy and government and major event security functions to the Department of Home Affairs.

Comprehensive review of the legal framework of the National Intelligence Community

Review

Closing date

The review has provided a classified report and an unclassified report to the government. The unclassified report and government response are now available to download below.

On 30 May 2018, the Attorney-General announced that the government had commissioned a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing the National Intelligence Community to be undertaken by Mr Dennis Richardson AC (the Richardson Review).

The 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.​

For more information about the review see the terms of reference for the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community.

Outcomes

The review has provided a classified report and an unclassified report to the government.

On 4 December 2020 the Attorney-General released the unclassified report and the government response:

Related links

Terms of reference for the Richardson Review

Related websites

2017 Independent Intelligence Review (PMC)

Media releases

30 May 2018: Review of national intelligence legislation