Director-General of Security
Encyclopedia
The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
(ASIO), the domestic security agency
of Australia
. The Director-General, through the Organisation, has overall responsibility for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage
, sabotage
(especially sabotage of critical infrastructure
), politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, terrorism
and acts of foreign interference.
The Director-General is assisted by two Deputy Directors-General, although only one of the Deputies, David Fricker, has been publicly identified. The Director-General is subject to the directions of the Attorney-General
, although convention allows the Director-General direct access to the Prime Minister
. The Director-General of Security is often regarded as Australia's 'top spy', even though they may not have been previously engaged in intelligence
upon appointment. The incumbent Director-General is David Irvine
, appointed in 2009.
on the advice of the Prime Minister
and holds office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. The normal term of appointment is limited to seven years, although the Director-General is eligible for reappointment.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
(ASIO), the domestic security agency
Security agency
A security agency is a governmental organization which conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation. They are the domestic cousins of foreign intelligence agencies...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Director-General, through the Organisation, has overall responsibility for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
(especially sabotage of critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure is a term used by governments to describe assets that are essential for the functioning of a society and economy. Most commonly associated with the term are facilities for:*electricity generation, transmission and distribution;...
), politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and acts of foreign interference.
The Director-General is assisted by two Deputy Directors-General, although only one of the Deputies, David Fricker, has been publicly identified. The Director-General is subject to the directions of the Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
, although convention allows the Director-General direct access to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
. The Director-General of Security is often regarded as Australia's 'top spy', even though they may not have been previously engaged in intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
upon appointment. The incumbent Director-General is David Irvine
David Irvine (diplomat)
David Taylor Irvine AO is an Australian diplomat, and since March 2009 has been the current Director-General of Security...
, appointed in 2009.
Directors-General of Security
| Tenure | Name |
|---|---|
| 1949–1950 | Justice Geoffrey Reed |
| 1950–1970 | Brigadier Sir Charles Spry Charles Spry Brigadier Sir Charles Chambers Fowell Spry, CBE, DSO was an Australian soldier, who from 1950 to 1970 was the second Director-General of Security, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation .-Early life:... CBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... |
| 1970–1975 | Peter Barbour |
| 1975–1976 | Frank Mahony CB Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath... OBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
| 1976–1981 | Justice Sir Edward Woodward OBE Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... |
| 1981–1985 | Harvey Barnett AO Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
| 1985–1988 | Alan Wrigley AO Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
| 1988–1992 | John Moten John Moten John Michael Moten is an Australian aeronautical engineer. From 1988 to 1992, he was the Director-General of Security, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation . He was the son of Brigadier Murray Moten, a senior Australian Army officer.Moten was not a career intelligence... |
| 1992–1996 | David Sadleir AO Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
| 1996–2005 | Dennis Richardson Dennis Richardson (diplomat) Dennis James Richardson AO is an Australian public servant. He is the current Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade... AO Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
| 2005–2009 | Paul O'Sullivan Paul O'Sullivan Paul Thomas O'Sullivan, AO is Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Director-General of Security. Prior to his appointment to head ASIO in July 2005, O'Sullivan was former Prime Minister John Howard's senior foreign affairs advisor.O'Sullivan attended Marcellin College, Randwick,... |
| 2009–present | David Irvine David Irvine (diplomat) David Taylor Irvine AO is an Australian diplomat, and since March 2009 has been the current Director-General of Security... AO Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"... |
Appointment and tenure
The Director-General is appointed by the Governor-GeneralGovernor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
and holds office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. The normal term of appointment is limited to seven years, although the Director-General is eligible for reappointment.