ASIS operates collaboratively within Australia's National Intelligence Community.
ASIS in the National Intelligence Community
The National Intelligence Community (NIC) was officially formed following the Australian Government's adoption of the 20 Independent Intelligence Review's (IIR) recommendations.
The NIC comprises of the ten agencies - the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Office of National Intelligence (ONI), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the intelligence functions of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Department of Home Affairs.
These agencies and departments form the Australian Government's intelligence enterprise, working to collect, analyse and disseminate intelligence information and advice in accordance with Australia's interest and national security priorities.
Difference between ASIS and ASIO
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is Australia's security service. As set out in the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, ASIO gathers and assesses security intelligence to inform the government in order to protect Australia and Australian interests.
ASIS is Australia's foreign intelligence collection agency. We collect and distribute secret foreign intelligence, information which would be otherwise unavailable to Australia, in order to protect Australia and further Australian interests. As stipulated in the Intelligence Services Act 2001, the functions of ASIS are:
(a) to obtain, in accordance with the Government's requirements, intelligence about the capabilities, intentions or activities of people or organisations outside Australia; and
(b) to communicate, in accordance with the Government's requirements, such intelligence; and
(ba) to provide assistance to the Defence Force in support of military operations and to cooperate with the Defence Force on intelligence matters; and
(c) to conduct counter-intelligence activities; and
(d) to liaise with intelligence or security services, or other authorities, of other countries; and
(da) to cooperate with and assist bodies referred to in section 13A in accordance with that section; and
(db) to undertake activities in accordance with section 13B; and
(e) to undertake such other activities as the responsible Minister directs relating to the capabilities, intentions or activities of people or organisations outside Australia.
