The Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC, MP wrote to the Committee on 29 March 2023 to refer the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023 for inquiry and report.

The National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023 proposes amendments to enhance the legislative framework of the National Intelligence Community (NIC) by implementing recommendations 18, 19, 66, 136, 145, 167, 186, 188, 191 and 192 of the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community (known as the Richardson Review). It proposes amendments to 13 related Commonwealth Acts to support these proposed enhancements.

The Bill also proposes to amend the Intelligence Services Act 2001 (IS Act) to provide certainty regarding the level of detail required to describe the directed activities in a Ministerial direction to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service under paragraph 6(1)(e) of the IS Act.

In addition, the Bill proposes amendments to the IS Act to increase the membership and associated quorum requirements of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), and amend the required composition of Government and non-Government members.

The Attorney-General has requested that the Committee report by the end of April 2023. Accordingly, submissions to the inquiry are invited by Thursday 6 April 2023. The Committee acknowledges the very tight timeframe requested for submissions and appreciates all efforts to support the Committee with its review.

Further information about making a submission to a parliamentary committee inquiry is available here.