Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Intelligence agency overview
Formed	13 May 1952; 72 years ago (13 May 1952)
Type	Intelligence agency
Jurisdiction	Australian Government
Headquarters	RG Casey Building, Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Annual budget	A$641.3 million (US$482.18 million) (2023–24)
Minister responsible	Penny Wong
Assistant Minister responsible	Tim Watts
Intelligence agency executives	Kerri Hartland, Director-General Fabio Meloni, Deputy Director-General Operations
Parent department	Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Key documents	s. 61 of the Constitution, Intelligence Services Act 2001, Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004
Website	www.asis.gov.au

The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS /ˈeɪsɪs/) is the foreign intelligence agency of the Commonwealth of Australia, responsible for gathering, processing, and analysing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence. The service was formed in 1952, however its existence remained secret within much of the government and to the public until 1972. ASIS is a primary entity of the Australian Intelligence Community.

ASIS is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) portfolio and has its headquarters in Canberra. Its director-general, currently Kerri Hartland, reports to the minister for foreign affairs.^[1] The service is comparable to the CIA (US) and MI6 (UK).