Commonwealth legislation

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) (Communications Access Co-ordinator) Specification 2016

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

This instrument appoints a specific senior public servant to oversee how Australian agencies access people's telecommunications information.

What it does

Names the First Assistant Secretary of the National Security Division (in the Attorney‑General's Department) as the Communications Access Co‑ordinator
Replaces the previous 2009 appointment

Why this matters The Co‑ordinator acts as a central oversight figure for surveillance activities. They manage how law enforcement and security agencies request:

Telecommunications data (phone records, internet metadata)
Interception warrants (permission to listen to phone calls or access messages)

By law, this role must be held by a specific senior public servant. This document simply updates which position in the government bureaucracy carries this responsibility, ensuring clear accountability for decisions about accessing private communications.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Telecommunications (Interception and Access) (Communications Access Co-ordinator) Specification 2016.

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) (Communications Access Co-ordinator) Specification 2016

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Telecommunications (Interception and Access) (Communications Access Co‑ordinator) Specification 2016

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979

I, GEORGE HENRY BRANDIS QC, Attorney-General, acting under subsection 6R(2) of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (the Act), and for paragraph (b) of the definition of the Communications Access Co‑ordinator in subsection 6R(1) of the Act:

(a) revoke the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) (Communications Access Co-ordinator) Specification 2009; and

(b) specify the person holding or acting in the position of First Assistant Secretary, National Security Division, in the Attorney‑General’s Department.

This Specification commences on 1 March 2016 or registration, whichever is later.

Dated 29 February 2016

Attorney-General

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.