Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

While the minister prepares to do that, it might be worth reflecting that ASIO then would not act as the clearinghouse for ASIS. It may not know what ASIS wants because it may not be part of the overall plan or investigation; it may just be providing information. However, do not forget also that, under the anti-money-laundering and counterterrorist financing legislation, the Director-General of Security may communicate AUSTRAC information to a foreign intelligence agency, which is at 133. The Director-General of Security may communicate AUSTRAC information to a foreign intelligence agency if the director-general is satisfied that the foreign intelligence agency has given appropriate undertakings for—these are some of the matters that you were concerned about earlier—protecting the confidentiality of the information, controlling the use that will be made of it and ensuring that the information will be used only for the purpose for which it is communicated to the foreign country and it is appropriate in all the circumstances of the case to do so. That provides that scheme.