Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Amendment 2021

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Amendment 2021

## What it does
This law changes how Australia's national security watchdog (the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor) reports on their work. The main updates give the Monitor new powers to investigate matters referred by Parliament's intelligence committee, and create a new type of report called a "special report" that can be prepared separately from the annual report.

## Why it matters
The changes strengthen parliamentary oversight of national security laws by making it easier for the intelligence committee to ask the Monitor to investigate specific concerns. The ability to issue special reports means urgent issues can be flagged publicly faster, rather than waiting for the yearly update.

## Key details
- The Monitor can now take on investigations when Parliament's intelligence committee refers a matter to them
- New "special reports" can be prepared and released outside the normal annual reporting cycle
- The Monitor must report on how well they're performing their core functions (reviewing national security laws and their impact)
- The law came into effect immediately upon receiving Royal Assent (no delayed start date)

Official Description

Amends the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010 to: enable the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) to report on own-motion inquiries in standalone reports; provide that the INSLM's annual report may include information relating to the performance of the INSLM's functions in relation to a referral from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; specify reporting arrangements for statutory reviews conducted by the INSLM; provide a framework for the engagement of staff (including contractors) to assist the INSLM in the performance of its functions or exercise of its powers; and provide current and former staff of the INSLM with certain legal protections during the course of assisting the INSLM with performing functions or exercising powers of the INSLM.

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Audit History

Introduced

24 June 2021

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

8 Dec 2021

Last checked by Crossbench

2 days ago

Full text indexed

2 days ago

🗳️

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