Foreign affairs & tradeAgencyExists today
Australian Secret Intelligence Service
ASIS
13 May 1952 – present
Australia's foreign human-intelligence service, collecting secret intelligence overseas about the capabilities, intentions and activities of foreign individuals and organisations.
How it came into existence
Created on 13 May 1952 by executive direction of the Menzies government, with help from the British Secret Intelligence Service. It had no direct Commonwealth predecessor.
Legislation: Intelligence Services Act 2001
Changes during its life
- 25 October 1977Its existence was publicly acknowledged by the Fraser government.
- 29 October 2001Placed on a statutory footing by the Intelligence Services Act 2001.
Main functions
- Collecting foreign intelligence from human sources
- Counter-intelligence activities abroad
- Liaison with foreign intelligence services
- Support to Australian Defence Force operations
- Other activities directed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Accountable authority
- Director-General – Intelligence Services Act 2001 section 16(2)(b)
- ABN
- 49 667 785 014
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))