On 23 July 1946 the Government approved in principle the establishment of the Signals Intelligence Centre in Melbourne as part of the British Commonwealth Signal Intelligence Organisation.

In April 1947 the Defence Signals Bureau (DSB) was established within the Department of Defence as part of a joint intelligence organisation embracing both the Defence Signals Bureau and the Joint Intelligence Bureau (JIB). The Defence Signals Bureau was established to function as the Commonwealth Government's cryptologic and communications security agency.

August 1974 saw the first of two Royal Commissions. The first Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security (RCIS) was established to inquire into and report upon the intelligence and security agencies. In that inquiry, Mr justice Hope investigated the activities of those agencies in considerable depth, including allegations of illegal or improper acts. He reported by April 1977 upon what was found and made recommendations for the future.

In May 1983, Mr Justice Hope was appointed to conduct the second Royal Commission on Australia's Security and Intalligence Agencies (RCASIA) and their activities. This inquiry was primarily to review the implementation of Government decisions made in the light of recommendations of the first RCIS.

One of Mr Justice Hope's recommendations was the establishment of an office of Inspector-General with power to inquire into and to report upon Australia's security and intelligence agencies including Defence Signals Directorate ((DSD). The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is responsible to the Prime Minister, and responsive to the Attorney-General, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence, and provides a public report of his activities to the Parliament annually.

The primary role of IGIS is to provide assurance to the Federal Government, and the Australian people, that the Intelligence and Security agencies:

. conduct their activities within the law;

. act with propriety;

. comply with ministerial guidelines/directives; and

. have regard to human rights.

To achieve these requirements, IGIS conducts monitoring programs.

Defence Signals Directorate has had several name changes since its creation, the first change was from Defence Signals Bureau to Defence Signals Branch in October 1949, then in January 1964 it changed again to Defence Signals Division and finally in July 1978 it changed to Defence Signals Directorate.

DSD is the Australian national authority on signal intelligence and communications security and computer security matters.

DSD's overall mission is to collect, produce and disseminate foreign signals intelligence; and provide advice to Government on all matters pertaining to communications security and computer security.

Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) is an outrider organisation in the Department of Defence. The Director, DSD is responsible to the Secretary to the Department of Defence for activities performed in compliance with the Government Directive and related legislation.

Further developments

The 2000s saw a dramatic expansion of the information security role as a result of the explosive growth of the internet and moves to online service delivery by Australian governments. In January 2010 DSD established the Cyber Security Operations Centre to develop a comprehensive understanding of ICT security threats to critical Australian systems, and coordinate a response to those threats across government and industry.

In May 2013 DSD was renamed the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to reflect its whole-of-government role in support of Australia’s national security.

In November 2014, the Cyber Security Operations Centre evolved into the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) as the next evolution of Australia's cyber security capability. CSOC was a Defence-based capability that hosted liaison staff from other government agencies. ACSC saw the co-location of all contributing agencies' cyber security capabilities.

In July 2017 the Prime Minister released the unclassified version of the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review. The review made a number of recommendations, including establishing ASD as a statutory authority within the Defence portfolio, and new arrangements for the Australian Cyber Security Centre to become part of ASD.

The Intelligence Services Amendment (Establishment of the Australian Signals Directorate) Bill 2018, which implements the recommendations of the review, was given Royal Assent and passed into law on 11 April 2018. Consequently, ASD became a statutory agency in the Defence portfolio on 1 July 2018.

Historical agency address

by 1978: Albert Park Barracks, Melbourne

2013: PO Box 5076, Kingston ACT 2604

by 1981: Victoria Barracks, Melbourne

by 1992: Buildings M and N, Russell Offices, Russell ACT

Sources

https://asd.gov.au/about/history.htm