Director-General of Security

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Director-General of Security
Incumbent
Mike Burgess
since 16 September 2019
Appointer David Hurley
Term length 5 years
Inaugural holderJustice Geoffrey Reed
Formation1949

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.

Contents

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

TenureName
1949–1950Justice Sir Geoffrey Reed
1950–1970Brigadier Sir Charles Spry, CBE , DSO
1970–1975 Peter Barbour
1975–1976 Frank Mahony, CB , OBE
1976–1981Justice 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
2014–2019Major General Duncan Lewis, AO , DSC , CSC
2019–present Mike Burgess

See also

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