Director-General of Security

The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australia's national security agency. The Director-General, through ASIO, has overall responsibility for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage (especially sabotage of critical infrastructure), politically motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, terrorism and acts of foreign interference.

Director-General of Security
Incumbent
Mike Burgess
since 16 September 2019
AppointerDavid Hurley
Term length5 years
Inaugural holderJustice Geoffrey Reed
Formation1949

The Director-General is assisted by two Deputy Directors-General, although only one of the former Deputies, David Fricker, has been publicly identified. David Fricker left ASIO in 2011.[1] The Director-General is subject to the directions of the Attorney-General, although convention allows the Director-General direct access to the Prime Minister. The Director-General of Security is often regarded as Australia's 'top spy', even though they may not have been previously engaged in intelligence upon appointment.[2] The incumbent Director-General is Mike Burgess, appointed on 16 September 2019.

The Director-General is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.[3] The normal term of appointment is limited to seven years, although the Director-General is eligible for reappointment.[4]

Directors-General of Security
TenureName
1949–1950Justice Sir Geoffrey Reed
1950–1970Brigadier Sir Charles Spry, CBE, DSO
1970–1975Peter Barbour
1975–1976Frank Mahony, CB, OBE
1976–1981Justice Sir Edward Woodward, OBE
1981–1985Harvey Barnett, AO
1985–1988Alan Wrigley, AO
1988–1992John Moten
1992–1996David Sadleir, AO
1996–2005Dennis Richardson, AO
2005–2009Paul O'Sullivan, AO
2009–2014David Irvine, AO
2014–2019Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC
2019–presentMike Burgess

See also
  • William Simpson – Director-General of Security in Australia from 1942 to 1945

References
  1. The Australian, 23 December 2011, From ASIO to archives
  2. Howard adviser lands top spy job, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 July 2005
  3. AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION ACT 1979 - SECT 7
  4. AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION ACT 1979 - SECT 9
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.