Director-General of Security

Director-General of Security
Incumbent David Irvine since March 2009
Appointer	Quentin Bryce as Governor-General of Australia
Term length	7 years
Inaugural holder	Justice Geoffrey Reed
Formation	1949
Deputy	David Fricker

The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the domestic security agency of Australia. The Director-General, through the Organisation, has overall responsibility for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage (especially sabotage of critical infrastructure), politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, terrorism and acts of foreign interference.

The Director-General is assisted by two Deputy Directors-General, although only one of the Deputies, David Fricker, has been publicly identified. The Director-General is subject to the directions of the Attorney-General, although convention allows the Director-General direct access to the Prime Minister. The Director-General of Security is often regarded as Australia's 'top spy', even though they may not have been previously engaged in intelligence upon appointment.^[1] The incumbent Director-General is David Irvine, appointed in 2009.

Directors-General of Security

Tenure	Name
1949–1950	Justice Geoffrey Reed
1950–1970	Brigadier Sir Charles Spry CBE DSO
1970–1975	Peter Barbour
1975–1976	Frank Mahony CB OBE
1976–1981	Justice Sir Edward Woodward OBE
1981–1985	Harvey Barnett AO
1985–1988	Alan Wrigley AO
1988–1992	John Moten
1992–1996	David Sadleir AO
1996–2005	Dennis Richardson AO
2005–2009	Paul O'Sullivan
2009–present	David Irvine AO

Appointment and tenure

The Director-General is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds office under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. The normal term of appointment is limited to seven years, although the Director-General is eligible for reappointment.

References

1. ^ Howard adviser lands top spy job, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 July 2005

External links

• List of Directors-General of Security on the ASIO website