Intelligence Services Act 2001

The Intelligence Services Act 2001 (ISA) is an act of the Parliament of Australia, which was passed on 29 September 2001 and came into effect on 29 October 2001.

The ISA introduced three main reforms:

  • A legislative basis for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) and the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), both of which had been previously established by executive order.
  • Increased powers for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), ASIS and DSD.
  • Establishment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) to oversee ASIO, ASIS, DSD, DIGO, DIO and ONA.

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