Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

If a complaint is made to the Inspector‑General in respect of action taken by an intelligence agency, the Inspector‑General may, for the purpose of:

determining whether the Inspector‑General is authorised to inquire into the action; or

if the Inspector‑General is authorised to inquire into the action: determining whether the Inspector‑General should inquire into the action;

After making preliminary inquiries in relation to a complaint, see subsections 11(2) to (6) for determining whether to pursue further inquiry.

Of his or her own motion, the Inspector‑General may make preliminary inquiries of the head of an intelligence agency:

to determine whether the Inspector‑General is authorised to inquire into an action of the agency; or

to determine whether the Inspector‑General should inquire into the action if the Inspector‑General is authorised to inquire into it.

After making preliminary inquiries of the head of the intelligence agency under subsection (2), the Inspector‑General may determine that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, an inquiry, or further inquiry, into the action is not warranted.

For reports relating to preliminary inquiries, see section 25B.

In making preliminary inquiries of the head of an intelligence agency under this section, the Inspector‑General is entitled to all reasonable facilities and assistance that the head of the agency is capable of providing.