Director-General of Security

Executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

Director-General of Security

Incumbent
Mike Burgess

since 16 September 2019

Appointer| David Hurley
Term length| 5 years
Inaugural holder| Justice Geoffrey Reed
Formation| 1949

The director-general of security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Australia's national security agency. The director-general, through ASIO, has overall responsibility for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage (especially sabotage of critical infrastructure), politically motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, terrorism and acts of foreign interference.

The director-general is assisted by two deputy directors-general, although only one of the former deputies, David Fricker, has been publicly identified.[citation needed] David Fricker left ASIO in 2011.[1] The director-general is subject to the directions of the attorney-general, although convention allows the director-general direct access to the prime minister. The director-general of security is often regarded as Australia's 'top spy', even though they may not have been previously engaged in intelligence upon appointment.[2] The incumbent director-general is Mike Burgess, appointed on 16 September 2019.

The director-general is appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister and holds office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.[3] The normal term of appointment is limited to seven years, although the director-general is eligible for reappointment.[4]

## Directors-general of security

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Tenure | Name

|

1949–1950 | Justice Sir Geoffrey Reed
1950–1970 | Brigadier Sir Charles Spry, CBE, DSO
1970–1975 | Peter Barbour
1975–1976 | Frank Mahony, CB, OBE
1976–1981 | Justice Sir Edward Woodward, OBE
1981–1985 | Harvey Barnett, AO
1985–1988 | Alan Wrigley, AO
1988–1992 | John Moten
1992–1996 | David Sadleir, AO
1996–2005 | Dennis Richardson, AO
2005–2009 | Paul O'Sullivan, AO
2009–2014 | David Irvine, AO
2014–2019 | Major General Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC
2019–present | Mike Burgess

## See also

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* William Simpson – Director-General of Security in Australia from 1942 to 1945

## References

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1. ^ The Australian, 23 December 2011, From ASIO to archives
2. ^ Howard adviser lands top spy job, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 July 2005
3. ^ AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION ACT 1979 - SECT 7
4. ^ AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION ACT 1979 - SECT 9

## External links

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* List of directors-general of security on the ASIO website

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Australian Intelligence Community

Agencies|

* Office of National Intelligence
* Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
* Australian Secret Intelligence Service
* Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation
* Australian Signals Directorate
* Australian Cyber Security Centre
* Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap
* Defence Intelligence Organisation
* Australian Federal Police
* Department of Home Affairs
* Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
* Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre

Coordination|

* National Security Committee of Cabinet
* Secretaries Committee on National Security
* National Intelligence Coordination Committee

Policy|

* Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
* Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
* Department of Defence (Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group)

Oversight|

* Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
* Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security
* Independent National Security Legislation Monitor
* Attorney-General's Department

Legislation|

* Intelligence Services Act 2001
* Intelligence Services Amendment Act 2004

Military|

* Australian Special Forces
* Australian Army Intelligence Corps
* 6th Brigade
* 7th Signal Regiment
* 1st Intelligence Battalion

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