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Commission of Inquiry into the Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Samuels and Codd Royal Commission · Samuels and Codd inquiry · Commission of inquiry into the Australian Secret Intelligence Service

15 March 1994 – 9 May 1995

Commission of inquiry under the Royal Commissions Act by Gordon Samuels and Michael Codd into the control, accountability, management and security of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.

How it came into existence

Following a Four Corners program of 21 February 1994 and Foreign Minister Gareth Evans’ announcement of a "root and branch" review, Governor-General Bill Hayden issued separate Letters Patent on 15 March 1994 to Gordon Jacob Samuels AC QC and Michael Henry Codd AC, directing them to inquire together and produce a single report on arrangements for the control and accountability, organisation and management of ASIS, the protection of its sources and methods, and the resolution of grievances, by 31 December 1994.

Legislation: Royal Commissions Act 1902

How it ended

Reported in March 1995. It rejected claims that ASIS was unaccountable, found the Four Corners disclosures damaging, and proposed draft legislation to put ASIS on a statutory footing; most of the report was not published. ASIS was later given a statutory basis by the Intelligence Services Act 2001. The Parliamentary Handbook gives 9 May 1995 as the date the final report was presented.

Main functions

  • Review of control and accountability of ASIS
  • Review of ASIS organisation and management
  • Review of protection of intelligence sources and methods
  • Review of grievance procedures for ASIS officers

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.