Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The government does not support the amendments moved by Senator Patrick. The government's view is that the remit of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security should not be expanded to include oversight of agencies' operational activities. We consider it remains appropriate for ministers to primarily oversee operations and be accountable to the parliament. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security already has extensive powers to oversee and inquire into the legality and propriety of National Intelligence Community operations, publishes an unclassified version of reports and appears before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on non-operational matters. We consider that existing arrangements appropriately balance accountability with the need to protect sensitive operations and capabilities and that further oversight by the committee is not necessary.