ASIO should be key agency for top security clearances: Committee

Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Peter Khalil. Picture by Elesa Kurtz

A joint parliamentary committee has recommended a bill making the the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation responsible for the country's highest-level clearances be passed by the Parliament.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023 would make ASIO the key agency for granting the TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) clearance for a range of government departments and agencies, beyond its own staff.