The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation's (ASIO) Report to Parliament 2007-08 (PDF File 5.9Mb) was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday 22 October 2008. The report is an unclassified version of a highly sensitive report that the Organisation presents annually to the Attorney-General.
ASIO is the only Australian intelligence agency that produces a public Report to Parliament, and it has done so for almost 30 years. Although operational and other sensitive information has been removed, ASIO's unclassified Report to Parliament provides a unique insight into the Organisation.
In his message from the Director-General of Security (PDF File 96Kb), Paul O'Sullivan points to the increasing complexity of Australia's security environment and the serious threat from terrorism. He says that "if not for the action of ASIO and its partners in recent years I believe there would have been a terrorist attack in Australia".
In a media release the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, noted that, at home, some Australians have shown they are willing to act on their extremist beliefs and said that "ASIO and its partners have worked hard to prevent these activities manifesting themselves into actual attacks in Australia or against Australian interests overseas."
In its 2007-08 Year in Review summary, ASIO assesses that terrorism will remain the most significant security threat to Australia for the foreseeable future. That threat was linked in large part to the Middle East and South Asia. Core al-Qa'ida retained the capability and intent to conduct its own attacks, and its alliances and ideological reach posed new threats.
ASIO sees the counter-terrorism environment in South-East Asia as generally improved, but still serious. Indonesia's disruption of a terrorist cell in June 2008 was evidence that serious attacks are still possible there.
At home, ASIO points out that there is a small but potentially dangerous minority of Australians who hold extremist views and are prepared to act in support of their beliefs. Some by advocating or supporting violence, and others by travelling overseas for training or for violent jihad.
ASIO also highlights espionage and foreign interference as threats facing Australia – and a priority for the Organisation that has taken on new dimensions with electronic techniques being added to age-old methods.
In his media release the Attorney-General said, "Espionage has always been a security concern, but with advances in technology it is taking on a more dramatic dimension. It's encouraging to see that ASIO is taking steps to counter this evolving threat."
2007-08 was a busy year for ASIO. Amongst the key statistics listed in its Report to Parliament are 72,688 visa security assessments, 82,290 counter-terrorism checks, and 21,386 personnel security assessments. ASIO provided 3,224 intelligence and threat assessment reports to at least 75 Commonwealth and State and Territory government customers. More than 140 security reports were available to Australian businesses on ASIO's Business Liaison Unit website.
The ASIO Report to Parliament points to the 2007 Asia-Pacific Economic (APEC) forum events in Australia – which included a meeting of 21 heads of government in Sydney – as a particular test of the Organisation's planning and response capabilities. As well as operating the APEC Security Intelligence Centre, ASIO completed 16,573 security checks for individuals accredited for the APEC events. Working closely with international and domestic partners, ASIO helped ensure there were no major security incidents during APEC.
ASIO is mid-way through a program to build capability across the Organisation by increasing staff, enhancing information technology and developing intelligence-specific expertise. By 30 June 2008 the Organisation's workforce was 1,492. Technical collection and analysis capabilities were also boosted, and ASIO appointed a full-time Science Adviser to assist in its research and development programs.
Also highlighted in the Report to Parliament is ASIO's further development of its partnerships with other government departments and agencies, with representatives from 12 other agencies now integrated within ASIO.
Because most of the security threats facing Australia have significant overseas links, ASIO expanded its overseas liaison relationships to 311 agencies in 120 countries.