The Information Revolution and Foreign Intelligence Assessment - New Challenges for Australia

With revolutionary changes in communications technology and the growing complexity of
national security, Australia‟s intelligence community faces a relentless growth of the information
it collects and analyses. This article explores the impact of this challenge on the foreign
intelligence assessment process. In particular, three risks—the threat to information security,
the pressure of coordinating assessment, and the potentially harmful influence of
policymakers—are examined in detail. Among other changes, a proposed Foreign Intelligence
Advisory Board, modelled on the US equivalent, but with distinctive powers suited to Australia,
should help minimise problems likely to arise in the years ahead.