Bill re-writes ‘foreign intelligence” in the Interception Act

First 12 of 12 paragraphs shown Australian law limits the collection of foreign intelligence to information relating to foreign governments and foreign political organisations 'where it is important to the defence of the Commonwealth or to the conduct of the Commonwealths international affairs'. A change was proposed.
The enemy is is everywhere: The Anti-people Smuggling And Other Measures Bill 2010 amends the definition of foreign intelligence
- in the Interception Act;
- to align it with the concept of foreign intelligence that is currently contained in the Intelligence Services Act 2001 (ISA)
Interception and surveillance powers for ASIO: Speaking to the Anti-people Smuggling And Other Measures Bill 2010, Robert McClelland, ALP, Member for Barton, Attorney-General, told the Commonwealth Of Australia House Of Representatives, 'The bill will also make consequential amendments to the Interception Act and the Surveillance Devices Act to ensure that investigative tools under both acts are available in relation to the new and amended people- smuggling offences.
Redefines foreign intelligence: The bill amends the definition of foreign intelligence in the Interception Act to align it with the concept of foreign intelligence that is currently contained in the Intelligence Services Act 2001 (ISA).
How defined today: Currently the definition of foreign intelligence in the Interception Act limits the collection of foreign intelligence to information relating to foreign governments and foreign political organisations where it is important to the defence of the Commonwealth or to the conduct of the Commonwealths international affairs.
Non government actors tracked: “This position no longer adequately reflects the contemporary threats to Australias national security interests. The amendments recognise that in an increasingly interconnected global community, activities such as people smuggling are usually undertaken by non-state actors, and will enable information about foreign individuals or groups operating without government support to be collected”.
The war front is everywhere: “The bill also recognises the broader nature of the contemporary threat environment by allowing the collection of foreign intelligence about non-state actors where it is in the interests of Australias national security, foreign relations or national economic wellbeing'.

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