The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2025 amends the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 to make ASIO’s compulsory questioning powers permanent, extend their scope to include sabotage, promotion of communal violence, attacks on Australia’s defence system and serious threats to territorial and border integrity, and enhance oversight through stricter prescribed authority criteria, reporting requirements and safeguards for post-charge questioning.

It also repeals the sunset provision and updates the Intelligence Services Act 2001 to reset the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security review deadline.

The Bill amends Division 3 of Part III of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and makes consequential changes to the Intelligence Services Act 2001. Its main features are:

• Schedule 1 Part 1 repeals section 34JF to remove the 7 September 2025 sunset of ASIO’s compulsory questioning framework, making it permanent.
• Part 2 (section 34A) expands the definition of “adult questioning matter” to add sabotage, promotion of communal violence, attacks on Australia’s defence system and serious threats to territorial and border integrity.
• Parts 3 and 4 (section 34AD) broaden disqualifying criteria and align termination provisions for prescribed authorities—disqualifying Defence Force members, APS employees, parliamentarians, prosecutors and others—to reinforce independence and impartiality.
• Part 5 inserts reporting obligations (section 34HA) requiring the Director-General of Security to inform the Attorney-General of any contraventions of warrants, procedures or directions.
• Part 6 (sections 34BD, 34BE, 34DE) mandates that post-charge questioning and production of records occur only before a prescribed authority who is a former judge of a superior court.
• Schedule 2 establishes transitional rules applying amendments only to warrants and appointments made on or after commencement.
• An amendment to section 29 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 resets the PJCIS review deadline to the third anniversary of the Act’s commencement.