How is ASIO different from the police?
ASIO’s investigations are focussed on establishing whether an individual’s activities are, or could reasonably be expected to be, relevant to security. There is a degree of overlap between ASIO’s work and that of law enforcement agencies in the context of terrorism-related offences. ASIO officers do not have executive powers and cannot arrest people (the focus of ASIO’s intelligence investigations is the prevention of harm to Australians and Australian interests). The Attorney-General’s Guidelines require investigations to be conducted with as little intrusion into privacy as possible, consistent with the national interest. The use by ASIO of intrusive investigation methods is determined by the gravity and immediacy of the threat to security posed by the subject. Where the threat is assessed as serious, or could emerge quickly, a greater degree of intrusion may be necessary. Use of these powers – which are governed by strict warrant procedures – requires that the subject’s activities a
