Office of National Assessments
Encyclopedia
The Office of National Assessments (ONA) is an Australian intelligence agency
. ONA was established by the Office of National Assessments (ONA) Act 1977 as an independent body directly accountable to the Prime Minister of Australia
. ONA provides all-source assessments on international political, strategic and economic developments to the Prime Minister and senior ministers in the National Security Committee of Cabinet. It also coordinates and evaluates the work and performance of Australia’s foreign intelligence agencies. ONA is not an intelligence collection agency.
ONA is in the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio of the Australian Public Service. Its financial framework is governed by the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act).
ONA is currently a sub-tenant in the Central Office building of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
(ASIO) in Russell
, Canberra. The agency received Cabinet approval and funding to relocate to a refurbished building in the Parliamentary Triangle
, and is expected to move into the new building in the first half of 2011.
The Director-General of ONA is an independent statutory officer who is not subject to external direction on the content of ONA assessments. ONA has about 150 staff, including 100 analysts. The current Director-General of ONA is Allan Gyngell, a distinguished Australian diplomat, former senior advisor to former Prime Minister Paul Keating
, and founder of the Lowy Institute.
The Office of National Assessments is not a producer of intelligence; it collates intelligence data generated by DIO
, ASIS
, ASIO
and DSD
to create analytical products. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is the primary consumer of these products, which are designed to assist the Australian Government in strategic decision making and ensure that government is fully briefed on emergent threats both in the region and globally. Its independence from the Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios is a deliberate attempt to generate balanced and fair analysis.
Although not a secret organisation, ONA usually attracts little attention. However, a striking exception occurred in 2001 when the former Prime Minister, John Howard
, publicly relied upon an ONA assessment to support his claims about asylum seekers on the MV Tampa
, in an incident which became known as the "Tampa affair
". The ONA assessment was later leaked to the public in its entirety, showing that the assessment was ultimately based on nothing more than press releases
from various government ministers.
In 2003, in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, an ONA intelligence officer named Andrew Wilkie
resigned from the agency, citing pressure from the Australian government to exaggerate intelligence on the matter of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
.
ONA has experienced substantial growth since the release of the report into intelligence agencies by Phillip Flood which recommended a doubling of the agency's budget and staffing resources and formalisation of the agency's role as a coordinator and evaluator of the other Australian foreign intelligence agencies. The only ONA specific recommendation not implemented from the Flood report was the renaming of ONA to the Australian Foreign Intelligence Assessment Agency (AFIAA).
The ONA is divided into branches: Atlantic Branch; Corporate and I.T. Services; Executive & Foreign Intelligence Coordination; International Economy Branch; South Asia & Middle East Branch; North Asia Branch; Oceania Branch; Open Source Centre; Southeast Asia Branch; Strategic Analysis Branch; Transnational Issues Branch.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
. ONA was established by the Office of National Assessments (ONA) Act 1977 as an independent body directly accountable to the Prime Minister of Australia
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...
. ONA provides all-source assessments on international political, strategic and economic developments to the Prime Minister and senior ministers in the National Security Committee of Cabinet. It also coordinates and evaluates the work and performance of Australia’s foreign intelligence agencies. ONA is not an intelligence collection agency.
ONA is in the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio of the Australian Public Service. Its financial framework is governed by the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act).
ONA is currently a sub-tenant in the Central Office building of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
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) in Russell
Russell, Australian Capital Territory
Russell is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district. Russell is one of the smallest suburbs in Canberra, comprising a number of government offices but no private residences...
, Canberra. The agency received Cabinet approval and funding to relocate to a refurbished building in the Parliamentary Triangle
Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra
The Parliamentary Triangle is the ceremonial precinct of Canberra, containing some of Australia's most significant buildings. The triangle is formed by Commonwealth, Kings and Constitution avenues...
, and is expected to move into the new building in the first half of 2011.
The Director-General of ONA is an independent statutory officer who is not subject to external direction on the content of ONA assessments. ONA has about 150 staff, including 100 analysts. The current Director-General of ONA is Allan Gyngell, a distinguished Australian diplomat, former senior advisor to former Prime Minister Paul Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
, and founder of the Lowy Institute.
The Office of National Assessments is not a producer of intelligence; it collates intelligence data generated by DIO
Defence Intelligence Organisation
The Defence Intelligence Organisation is an Australian government intelligence agency responsible for assessing intelligence obtained from or provided by other Australian and foreign intelligence agencies, supporting Defence and Government decision-making and the planning and conduct of Australian...
, ASIS
Australian Secret Intelligence Service
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service is the Australian government intelligence agency responsible for collecting foreign intelligence, undertaking counter-intelligence activities and cooperation with other intelligence agencies overseas...
, ASIO
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...
and DSD
Defence Signals Directorate
Defence Signals Directorate is an Australian government intelligence agency responsible for signals intelligence and information security .-Overview:According to its website, DSD has two principal functions:...
to create analytical products. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is the primary consumer of these products, which are designed to assist the Australian Government in strategic decision making and ensure that government is fully briefed on emergent threats both in the region and globally. Its independence from the Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios is a deliberate attempt to generate balanced and fair analysis.
Although not a secret organisation, ONA usually attracts little attention. However, a striking exception occurred in 2001 when the former Prime Minister, John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, publicly relied upon an ONA assessment to support his claims about asylum seekers on the MV Tampa
MV Tampa
MV Tampa is a roll-on/roll-off container ship completed in 1984 by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in South Korea for the Norway based firm, Wilhelmsen Lines Shipowning.-Tampa affair:...
, in an incident which became known as the "Tampa affair
Tampa affair
In August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
". The ONA assessment was later leaked to the public in its entirety, showing that the assessment was ultimately based on nothing more than press releases
News release
A press release, news release, media release, press statement or video release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something ostensibly newsworthy...
from various government ministers.
In 2003, in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, an ONA intelligence officer named Andrew Wilkie
Andrew Wilkie
Andrew Damien Wilkie is an Australian politician and independent federal member for Denison...
resigned from the agency, citing pressure from the Australian government to exaggerate intelligence on the matter of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
During the regime of Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq used, possessed, and made efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction . Hussein was internationally known for his use of chemical weapons in the 1980s against Iranian and Kurdish civilians during and after the Iran–Iraq War...
.
ONA has experienced substantial growth since the release of the report into intelligence agencies by Phillip Flood which recommended a doubling of the agency's budget and staffing resources and formalisation of the agency's role as a coordinator and evaluator of the other Australian foreign intelligence agencies. The only ONA specific recommendation not implemented from the Flood report was the renaming of ONA to the Australian Foreign Intelligence Assessment Agency (AFIAA).
The ONA is divided into branches: Atlantic Branch; Corporate and I.T. Services; Executive & Foreign Intelligence Coordination; International Economy Branch; South Asia & Middle East Branch; North Asia Branch; Oceania Branch; Open Source Centre; Southeast Asia Branch; Strategic Analysis Branch; Transnational Issues Branch.