CTHIn ForceBill
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026
37Minister may give directions of specific nature to1
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 37
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026.
37 Minister may give directions of specific nature to1
Director-General2
Minister may give directions3
(1) If the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest4
to do so, the Minister may give written directions of a specific5
nature to the Director-General about the performance of the6
Director-General’s functions, or the exercise of the7
Director-General’s powers, under this Act.8
Limitations and requirements9
(2) However, the Minister must not give a direction in relation to the10
content of, or any conclusions to be reached in, any advice, report11
or assessment (however described) by the ACIC or the12
Director-General under this Act.13
(3) In giving a direction under subsection (1), the Minister must not14
override the opinion of the Director-General:15
(a) on the question of whether the collection of intelligence by16
the ACIC concerning a particular person, entity or group17
would, or would not, be consistent with ACIC’s functions; or18
(b) on the question of whether a communication of intelligence19
concerning a particular person, entity or group would be20
consistent with the ACIC’s functions;21
unless the Minister sets out, in the direction, the Minister’s reasons22
for overriding the opinion of the Director-General.23
Note: See section 38 for additional requirements in relation to such24
directions.25
Compliance with directions26
(4) The Director-General must comply with a direction under27
subsection (1).28
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to the extent that the direction relates29
to the Director-General’s performance of functions, or exercise of30
powers, under the following Acts in relation to the ACIC:31
(a) the Public Service Act 1999;32