Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Intelligence agency overview
Formed	13 May 1952; 71 years ago (13 May 1952)
Type	Intelligence agency
Jurisdiction	Australian Government
Headquarters	RG Casey Building, Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Annual budget	A$605.1 million (US$454.96 million) (2022–23)[1]
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 Australia, tasked with the covert collection of information overseas through personal contacts and other means of human intelligence. It is part of the Australian Intelligence Community and is also responsible for counter-intelligence and liaising with the intelligence agencies of other countries such as the NZSIS. ASIS was formed in 1952 but its existence remained secret within much of the government until 1972. ASIS is comparable to the American CIA and the British MI6 (formally known as the Secret Intelligence Service).

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.^[2]