Australia’s former national security watchdog accuses successor of bowing to pressure from attorney general

Mark Dreyfus and a staffer raised concerns with Jake Blight about ‘ambiguity’ in an INSLM report by his predecessor, Grant Donaldson. Blight says they did not directly ask for a clarification and the decision was his alone. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The former independent watchdog on Australia’s national security laws has accused his successor of bowing to pressure from the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, in publishing a “clarification” to an old annual report that had criticised Dreyfus over a terrorism case.

The current Independent Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM), Jake Blight, has confirmed to Guardian Australia that both Dreyfus and one of his staff separately raised concerns earlier this year about what they alleged was “ambiguity” in the INSLM’s 2022-23 report, written by his predecessor, Grant Donaldson.