Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986

After conducting an inquiry under this Act into a complaint in respect of action taken by an intelligence agency (other than a preliminary inquiry under section 14), the Inspector‑General must (subject to subsection (2)) take reasonable steps to give a written response relating to the inquiry to the complainant, unless the Inspector‑General is satisfied on reasonable grounds that doing so will prejudice security, the defence of Australia or Australia’s relations with other countries.

The Inspector‑General must not give the response until the head of the relevant agency and the Inspector‑General have agreed that the terms of the proposed response will not prejudice:

security, the defence of Australia or Australia’s relations with other countries; or

law enforcement operations, including methodologies and investigative techniques; or

the privacy of individuals; or

confidential commercial information; or

the fair trial of a person or the impartial adjudication of a matter.

The Inspector‑General must give a copy of the response to the responsible Minister.