The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is required under Section 29 (1)(a) of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, to conduct an annual review of the administration, expenditure and financial statements of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australian Signals Directorate (ASD-formerly the Defence Signals Directorate), Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), Defence Imagery Geospatical Organisation (DIGO) and the Office of National Assessments (ONA).

Upon dissolution of the 43rd Parliament this inquiry lapsed. The Committee of the 44th Parlaiment has resolved to conduct Review No. 11 (2011-2012) and to accept all submissions made to the previous inquiry as evidence in this inquiry.