Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security, 1974–77

The Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security was established on 21 August 1974. Its purpose was to:

report on the history of the Australian security and intelligence agencies
make recommendations about the future of the agencies to enable them to serve Australia in the most efficient and effective way
recommend procedures for the review of adverse security decisions against individuals
make recommendations about the machinery for ministerial control, direction and coordination of the security and intelligence services.

The Royal Commission received submissions from many sources, including:

former ministers and public servants
current and former staff of the security agencies
Australian Government departments and agencies
the general public.

The commission conducted public and in-camera hearings in Canberra and the mainland capitals. It also took trips to New Zealand, Asia, Europe and North America to gather information.

The royal commission's recommendations were contained in eight reports presented between March 1976 and April 1977. Many of the recommendations were taken up by the government.

Records of the royal commission

The National Archives holds many records of the Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security, including:

reports
submissions
evidence provided at hearings
administrative records.

Exemptions have been applied to some information for security reasons.

Key records

Many of the records below have been digitised and are available in RecordSearch.

See getting started with your research and keyword searching in RecordSearch for information on finding records in these series.

Working papers – royal commission reports, 1901-1977 (series A12393)
Briefing and reference material relating to overseas organisations, 1920-76 (series A12390)
Exhibits received at official hearings, 1934-76 (series A12388)
Documents received from the Australian security and intelligence agencies, 1940-1977 (series A12389)
Material relating to history of the Australian security and intelligence agencies, 1945-76 (series A12392)
Published reports accumulated as reference material, 1946-77 (series A12391)
Folder of copies of submissions, 1973-75 (series A12387)
Notes kept by secretary – George Brownbill, 1974-77 (series A12395)
Records of evidence given at formal hearings, 1975-76 (series A8913)
Correspondence files – Australian agencies, 1922-82 (series A12383)
Correspondence files – individual submission files, 1933-95 (series A12385)
Correspondence files – alpha primary sequence J to K, 1939-77 (series A12384)
Correspondence files – government departments, 1949-78 (series A12381)
Correspondence files – administrative files, 1969-77 (series A12386)
Correspondence files – security and intelligence agencies, 1973-77 (series A12382)

Reports of the royal commission

First Report – Procedural matters, 1976 (A8908, 1)
Second Report – Security vetting and the question of the establishment of a Security Appeals Tribunal, 1976 (A8908, 2)
- Annex to the Second Report for limited circulation,1976 (A8908, 2B)
Third Report – Intelligence and co-ordination machinery, 1976 (A8908, 3A)
- Abridged findings and recommendations 1976 (A8908, 3B)
Fourth Report – Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation, Vol. 1, 1976 (A8908, 4A)
- Vol. 2 (Appendices 4A to 4L), 1976 (A8908, 4B)
- Vol. 3 (Appendices 4M to 4R), 1976 (A8908, 4C)
- Additional report on ASIO for limited circulation), 1976 (A8908, 4D)
Fifth Report – Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Vol. 1, 1976 (A8908, 5A)
- Vol. 2 (Appendices), 1976 (A8908, 5B)
Sixth Report – Defence Signals Directorate, Vol. 1, 1976 (A8908, 6A)
- Vol. 2 – Appendices 6A to 6K, 1976 (A8908, 6B)
- Vol. 3 – Appendices 6S, 6T and 6U, 1976 (A8908, 6C)
Seventh Report – Australian Intelligence/Security Services 1900–1950 by J Templeton, Vol. 1, 1977 (A8908, 7A)
- Vol. 2, 1977 (A8908, 7B)
Eighth Report – Disposal and subsequent use of RCIS records, 1977 (A8908, 8)

Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security, 1974–77

Records of the royal commission

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