When the FBI Comes Calling…®

Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) (Australia)

Founded:    May 1952

Mission:      Located within the Australian Commonwealth's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ASIS has the government's primary responsibility for foreign HUMINT collection.

Structure:    Though the ASIS director reports to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and to the Prime Minister, the standards for collection are set by the National Security Committee. Since the passage of the Intelligence Services Act in December of 2001, ASIS is required to provide an unclassified briefing report to the Parliament on an annual basis.