On 29 November 1915, the British Government was informed that Major George Steward the Official Secretary to the Governor-General had been nominated and approved as the Officer to communicate with Lieutenant-Colonel Kell, head of the Imperial Counter Espionage Bureau, London with a view to arranging for the establishment of a Commonwealth Branch in Australia (1).

 The Commonwealth Branch, known as the Australian Special Intelligence Bureau (or more usually the Special Intelligence Bureau) was established in January 1916 headed by Major Steward, who also remained Official Secretary to the Governor-General (2).

 During 1916 no definite arrangements were made in regard to the staffing of the Bureau because of the absence overseas of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon W M Hughes. On 2 February 1917, to set the Bureau on a proper footing, Major Steward put forward proposals to the Prime Minister that the Bureau include the following staff:

 Director

Assistant Class C - 432 pounds sterling

Clerk Class D - 336 pounds sterling

Clerk Class E - 185 pounds sterling

Secret Agents

 He proposed that Secret Agents be paid as agreed upon in each case until possibly the question of the establishment of a small Federal Police Force was resolved.

 Major Steward listed the functions of the Bureau on 2 February 1917 as:

 "(a) The examination of the credentials and the control of

passengers passing through the seaports.

 (b) The tracing and recording of the personal histories of Alien

enemy agents and suspects.

 (c) Activity on the part of hostile secret service agents.

 (d) Suspected enemy activities directed to the capture of British

trade.

(e) Cases of sedition.

 (f) The investigation of cases of espionage.

 (g) The circulation of warnings, and descriptions of suspects" (3).

 The Bureau was formally established by Executive Council Minute approved on 14 February 1917 to take effect from 14 January 1916. Major George Steward was appointed Director and H E Jones was appointed Assistant (4).

 A close relationship between the Special Intelligence Bureau and the State Police Authorities was established. The various State Chiefs of Police were ex-officio members of the Bureau (5). The relationship between the Commonwealth Police Force [I] (CA 2919) established in December 1917 and the Special Intelligence Bureau is subject to further research.

 Major Harold Edward Jones was appointed Director of the Bureau by Executive Council Minute approved on 25 June 1919, to take effect from 1 March 1919 (6).

 It was decided in 1919 to wind down the Commonwealth Police Force [I] (CA 2919) and establish an Investigation Branch under the control of the Attorney-General's Department (7). The Special Intelligence Bureau passed to Attorney-General's Department to become part of the new Branch. On 2 September 1920, the creation of positions in the Investigation Branch, Attorney-General's Department and the promotion of staff to them with effect from 1 November 1919 was notified in the Commonwealth Gazette (8). Harold Edward Jones was appointed Director, Class A, to head the Investigation Branch.

References

 1. Australian Archives (ACT): Prime Minister's Department, CRS A3932,

Correspondence files (second system), single number series with

'SC' (Secret and Confidential) prefix: item SC 298, Memorandum

from Governor-General's Office to Secretary, Prime Minister's

Department, 14 January 1916, 1915-1920

2. Ibid, Memorandum from Steward to Prime Minister, 2 Feb 1917; and

list of Permanent Officers of the Commonwealth Public Service as

on 30 June 1916, p 21; as on 3 June 1917, p 2

3. Ibid

4. Executive Council Minute No 7 of 1917

5. Australian Archives (ACT) CRS A3932: item SC 298, op cit, Letter

from Premier's Office, Sydney to Prime Minister, 6 February 1918

6. Australian Archives (ACT) CRS A3932: item SC 298, op cit, Minute

Paper for the Executive Council, submitted by the Acting

Attorney-General, 30 May 1919 (approved 25 June 1919) [Further

research is required to determine whether the Special

Intelligence Bureau reported to the Attorney-General by 1919.]

7. Australian Archives (ACT) CRS A3932: item SC 298, op cit,

Cabinet decision 24 February 1919 and related cablegram from the

Prime Minister, Paris, 7 March 1919 [Further research required

into the abolition of the Commonwealth Police Force [I], and the

Special Intelligence Bureau.]

8. Commonwealth Gazette, No.72, 2 September 1920, p 1156

Historical agency address

Melbourne, Victoria

Legislation administered

Formal creation: Executive Council Minute No. 7 of 1917