Independent Reviewer of Security Clearance Decisions

People in certain positions may require a security clearance to access classified Australian Government resources relevant to their position. Under Part IVA of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is able to undertake security vetting to assess a person’s suitability to hold, or to continue to hold, a security clearance and make security clearance decisions in respect of a person.

An independent reviewer of security clearance decisions (independent reviewer) is a person engaged by the Attorney-General to conduct reviews of certain security clearance decisions made by ASIO.

Who can request a review

ASIO will provide written notification of a security clearance decision to the affected person. This will include information about review pathways available to them.

An affected person may apply to an independent reviewer for review of a security clearance decision if:

  • the decision made by ASIO was prejudicial
  • after internal review, the decision remains prejudicial, and
  • the person was neither an existing security clearance holder nor a Commonwealth employee at the time the original decision was made.

An independent reviewer cannot review security clearance decisions made by ASIO if the affected person:

  • is not an Australian citizen or does not normally reside in Australia, and
  • is seeking the security clearance for employment and duties outside Australia.

How to apply

Applications for review must be made to an independent reviewer in writing within 30 days after the person is notified of the outcome of the internal review of the security clearance decision. The independent reviewer may allow further time for an application to be made, at their discretion.

Applications should include:

  • the applicant’s name, postal address, telephone number and email address
  • the date the applicant received the internal review decision
  • a copy of the decision, and
  • a statement indicating any part of the decision that the applicant does not agree with, setting out the grounds on which the application for review is made.

Applications should be submitted using the contact details below.

The review process

After receiving an application for review, an independent reviewer will decide whether to conduct a review and will communicate their decision to accept or reject the application for review to the:

  • affected person
  • Director‑General of Security, and
  • agency that sponsored the affected person’s application for a security clearance.

In conducting a review, the independent reviewer will consider all information the internal reviewer relied upon to make the decision and other relevant material, including information from the affected person. The independent reviewer may ask the Director-General of Security to seek information from the affected person for the purpose of the independent review. The independent reviewer must conduct the review in as timely a manner as possible.

After reviewing the decision, the independent reviewer will:

  • provide a written opinion to the Director-General of Security about whether the decision was reasonably open to have been made by the internal reviewer
  • provide a copy of the written opinion to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, and
  • notify the affected person and the sponsoring agency that the opinion has been given.

The Director-General must consider the independent reviewer's opinion and decide whether to take any action in response. The Director-General must advise the affected person, the sponsoring agency and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security of their decision.

Contact details

By email: IRSCD@ag.gov.au

By post: 
Independent Reviewer of Security Clearance Decisions
c/o Security and Counter-Terrorism Division
Attorney-General's Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Further Information

Further information on ASIO's role in security clearance decisions is available on the ASIO website.

Complaints about the activities of intelligence agencies can be made to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.