Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

The Inspector‑General must, before commencing an inquiry into a matter relating to a Commonwealth agency, inform the responsible Minister and, subject to subsections (2) and (3), the head of the agency that the Inspector‑General proposes to conduct the inquiry.

The Inspector‑General is not required by subsection (1) to advise the head of a Commonwealth agency that the Inspector‑General proposes to conduct an inquiry into a matter that relates directly to the head of the agency.

However, if the Inspector‑General does not advise the head of a Commonwealth agency that the Inspector‑General proposes to conduct an inquiry into a matter that relates directly to the head of the agency, the Inspector‑General must instead advise:

if the matter relates to the head of ASIO, ASIS, ASD, ACIC, AFP, AUSTRAC, the Department of Home Affairs or ONI—the responsible Minister in relation to ASIO, ASIS, ASD, ACIC, AFP, AUSTRAC, the Department of Home Affairs or ONI, as the case requires; or

if the matter relates to the head of AGO or DIO—the Secretary of the Defence Department; or

otherwise—the responsible Minister for the agency.

To avoid doubt, this section is subject to section 17.