Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Review of administration and expenditure No. 13 (2013-2014)—Australian intelligence agencies. I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

On behalf of Senator Bushby, I wish to make these comments about this report. This report fulfils one of the committee's key statutory oversight responsibilities. The Intelligence Services Act requires the committee to undertake a review of the administration and expenditure of the six Australian intelligence agencies on an annual basis.

This review addressed the 2013-14 financial year. The committee received comprehensive submissions and conducted private hearings with each intelligence agency and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.

I am pleased to report that the committee concluded that agencies are currently overseeing their administration and expenditure appropriately.

For a number of years now, the committee has monitored the impact of the efficiency dividend and other savings measures on agencies. In this review, the committee sought assurances that each agency continues to have the necessary resources to address Australia's national security priorities.

While outside the review period, recent increases to the ongoing funding of intelligence agencies, and the Office of National Assessment's exemption from the efficiency dividend, help allay the committee's concerns that agencies are at the point of being unable to find further efficiencies without affecting ongoing capability or operations.

The committee will monitor the effect of these funding decisions in its future reviews.

I commend the report to the Senate, and I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted, debate adjourned.