The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the effectiveness of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020. The bill review was referred to the Committee by the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Home Affairs.

This inquiry was referred on 4 July 2019 by the Attorney-General pursuant to subparagraph 29(1)(b)(ia) of the Intelligence Services Act 2001. The inquiry is to report on the impact of the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press.

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 ASIO, ASIS, AGO, DIO, ASD and ONA.

Under section 29(1)(bb)(i)(ii) and (ii) of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, it is a function of the PJCIS to review, by 7 January 2021, the operation, effectiveness and implications of:

• Division 3A of Part IAA of the Crimes Act 1914 (which provides for police powers in relation to terrorism) and any other provision of the Crimes Act 1914 as it relates to that Division; and,
• Divisions 104 and 105 of the Criminal Code (which provide for control orders and preventative detention orders in relation to terrorism) and any other provision of the Criminal Code Act 1995 as it relates to those Divisions.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced these reviews as one inquiry.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a statutory review into the ‘declared area’ provisions, listed in sections 119.2 and 119.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The provisions were introduced as part of the Foreign Fighters Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendments in 2014, and make it an offence for a person to enter, or remain in, declares areas if a foreign country, historically on the basis of regional terrorism activity. Under a sunset clause, the provisions are due to expire on 7 September 2021.

The Committee is required under Section 187N of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to review amendments made to Commonwealth legislation by the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018 and to complete its review by 30 September 2020.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has commenced a review of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Cessation) Bill 2019. The Bill amends the citizenship cessation provisions in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. The review was referred to the Committee by the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Home Affairs.

The Committee is required by Section 187N of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (TIA Act) to review the mandatory data retention regime prescribed by Part 5-1A of the TIA Act and provides for the completion of the review by 13 April 2020.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has commenced a review into the effectiveness of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020. The bill review was referred to the Committee by the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Home Affairs.