Australian Signals Directorate
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox government agency Template:Global surveillance The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), formerly the Defence Signals Directorate, is a statutory agency of the Government of Australia responsible for signals intelligence, providing intelligence support to Australian military operations, conducting cyberwarfare and ensuring information security. The ASD is a part of the larger Australian Intelligence Community, and its role within the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance is to monitor signals intelligence in South and East Asia. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is an agency within the ASD.
The unit was established in 1947 by executive order as the Defence Signals Bureau within the Department of Defence, and underwent several name changes until its current name ASD was adopted in 2013. ASD was converted to a statutory body by the Intelligence Services Act 2001. ASD is based in Canberra, at the Defence Department Headquarters at Russell Offices.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of February 2020, Rachel Noble is the Director-General of ASD, replacing Mike Burgess, who was appointed Director-General of Security in September 2019.
In April 2018, a proposal to empower ASD to collect intelligence on Australians was backed by former Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, but was strongly opposed by some in Cabinet who argued it was not necessary.<ref name=abc010518>Peter Dutton confirms push to expand powers of cyber spy agency to monitor domestic threats</ref> Under legislation, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are already allowed to seek assistance from ASD in conducting investigations on Australian citizens and businesses.<ref name=abc010518/>
History
[edit]The Directorate has operated under a number of different names since its founding:Template:Citation needed
- 1947 – Defence Signals Bureau established within the Department of Defence
- 1949 – name changed to Defence Signals Branch
- 1964 – name changed to Defence Signals Division
- 1977 – name changed to Defence Signals Directorate on recommendation of the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security (Hope Commission)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2013 – name changed to Australian Signals Directorate<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
ASD commissioned an official history in 2019, which will cover the organisation's history from its establishment to 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Roles and responsibilities
[edit]The principal functions of ASD are to collect and disseminate foreign signals intelligence (SIGINT) and to provide information security products and services to the Australian Government and Australian Defence Force (ADF), its foreign partners and militaries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
ASD operates at least three receiving stations:
- the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS), located at Kojarena, near Geraldton, Western Australia,
- the Shoal Bay Receiving Station, located at Shoal Bay, Northern Territory,<ref name="CT20131031"/> and
- a small station on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.<ref name="CT20131031">Template:Cite news</ref>
ASD also maintains a workforce at Pine Gap in central Australia.<ref name="PineGap">Template:Cite news</ref>
ADSCS and Shoal Bay are part of the United States signals intelligence and ECHELON analysis network.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> These stations also contribute signals intelligence for many Australian Government bodies, as well as the other UKUSA partners.
Electronic warfare operators in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals work closely with ASD. 7 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) at Borneo Barracks, Template:QLDcity, Queensland is also associated with ASD.Template:Citation needed.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In addition, it has been reported that many Australian embassies and overseas missions also house small facilities which provide a flow of signals intelligence to ASD.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
UKUSA Agreement (Five Eyes)
[edit]Template:More Australia joined the UKUSA Agreement in 1948,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The alliance is also known as the Five Eyes.<ref name="fiveeyes1">Template:Cite web</ref> Other countries, known as "third parties", such as West Germany, the Philippines, and several Nordic countries also joined the UKUSA community.<ref name="Guardian 2010"/><ref name="Gallagher 2014-06-18">Template:Cite web</ref> As the Agreement was a secret treaty, its existence was not even disclosed to the Australian Prime Minister until 1973, when Gough Whitlam insisted on seeing it.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The existence of the UKUSA Agreement was discovered by the Australian government during the 1973 Murphy raids on the headquarters of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). After learning about the agreement, Whitlam discovered that Pine Gap, a secret surveillance station close to Alice Springs, Australia, had been operated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Pine Gap is now operated jointly by both Australia and the United States.
The existence of the Agreement was not disclosed to the public until 2005.<ref name="timecoldwar">Template:Cite magazine</ref> On 25 June 2010, for the first time, the full text of the agreement was publicly released by the United Kingdom and the United States, and can now be viewed online.<ref name="Guardian 2010">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Under the agreement, ASD's intelligence is shared with UKUSA signals intelligence partner agencies:
- the National Security Agency (NSA)Template:Spaced ndashUnited States,
- the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)Template:Spaced ndashUnited Kingdom,
- the Communications Security Establishment (CSE)Template:Spaced ndashCanada,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and
- the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)Template:Spaced ndashNew Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Citation needed
Organisational structure
[edit]The Australian Signals Directorate is led by a Director-General and a Principal Deputy Director-General who oversee strategy. The ASD also comprises the Australian Cyber Security Centre, a Signals Intelligence and Network Operations Group, and a Corporate and Capability Group.
SIGINT and Network Operations Group
[edit]The Signals Intelligence and Network Operations Group is responsible for signals intelligence collection, analysis and production, and ASD's network based access and effects operations. The Group comprises an Intelligence Division and a Network Operations and Access Division responsible for foreign signals intelligence and offensive cyber operations.
Defence SIGINT and Cyber Command
[edit]The Defence Signals-Intelligence (SIGINT) and Cyber Command (DSCC) was established in January 2018 by the Chief of the Defence Force consolidating all ADF personnel within the ASD within the Joint Cyber Unit and Joint SIGINT Unit. The Commander of the DSCC is responsible to the Head of Information Warfare under the Chief of Joint Capabilities to the Chief of the Defence Force.<ref>Defence Chief announces new Command (30 January 2018) Australian Department of Defence News</ref>
Leadership
[edit]Director/Director-General
[edit]| Name | Term began | Term ended |
|---|---|---|
| Teddy Poulden | 1 April 1947<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1949 |
| R.N. Thompson | 1949<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1977 |
| R.D. Botterill | 1977<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1982 |
| Tim James | 1982 | 1994 |
| Martin Brady | 1994<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 1999 |
| Ron Bonighton | 1999 | 2002 |
| Stephen Merchant | 2002 | Template:Dts |
| Ian McKenzie | Template:Dts | Template:Dts |
| Paul Taloni | Template:Dts<ref name="itnews-infosec">Template:Cite news</ref> | Template:Dts |
| Mike Burgess | Template:Dts | Template:Dts |
| Rachel Noble | Template:Dts | Template:Dts |
| Abigail Bradshaw | Template:Dts | Incumbent |
See also
[edit]- Australian Intelligence Community
- Defence Signal Intelligence and Cyber Command
- List of intelligence agencies
- Espionage
- ECHELON
References
[edit]Sources
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Australian intelligence agencies Template:Signals intelligence agencies Template:Australian Defence Force Template:Five Eyes
- Cryptography organizations
- Signals intelligence agencies
- Australian intelligence agencies
- Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia
- 1947 establishments in Australia
- Government agencies established in 1947
- Cold War history of Australia
- Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group
- Organisations based in Canberra