Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo has launched a blistering attack against suggestions he was behind an apparent push to allow the country's digital spy agency to collect intelligence on Australians. Mr Pezzullo rubbished reports he asked the secretary of defence and the head of the Australian Signals Directorate to expand the agency's powers to collect information on citizens and covertly access their data. "This assertion is completely false," he told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Monday. "I have not proposed - nor would I ever propose - that ASD's powers be expanded in the way described in this false reporting." Mr Pezzullo said he suspected misinformed commentary would surround the establishment of the mega-portfolio, which was established five months ago. "That is the price of a free press, which most certainly has to be free, but that does not regrettably mean that it has to be informed, accurate or concerned with the facts," he said, suggesting many reports were ill-informed. "This was a prize for which there were unfortunately many nominees." Mr Pezzullo said the only consideration around expanding ASD's powers was about whether it should be involved in disrupting cyber crime in cases where criminal networks used Australian telecommunications structures. There was also consideration around whether the digital spy agency should be involved in defending critical national infrastructure. "The department will continue to work on these questions with colleagues in other departments and agencies," Mr Pezzullo said. "It will not now - or ever under my leadership - provide advice to government suggesting that ASD be allowed to acquire unchecked data collection powers in relation to Australian citizens." Australian Associated Press
Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo denied asking to expand the digital spy agency's powers.
Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo has launched a blistering attack against suggestions he was behind an apparent push to allow the country's digital spy agency to collect intelligence on Australians.
Mr Pezzullo rubbished reports he asked the secretary of defence and the head of the Australian Signals Directorate to expand the agency's powers to collect information on citizens and covertly access their data.
"This assertion is completely false," he told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Monday.
"I have not proposed - nor would I ever propose - that ASD's powers be expanded in the way described in this false reporting."
Mr Pezzullo said he suspected misinformed commentary would surround the establishment of the mega-portfolio, which was established five months ago.
"That is the price of a free press, which most certainly has to be free, but that does not regrettably mean that it has to be informed, accurate or concerned with the facts," he said, suggesting many reports were ill-informed.
"This was a prize for which there were unfortunately many nominees."
Mr Pezzullo said the only consideration around expanding ASD's powers was about whether it should be involved in disrupting cyber crime in cases where criminal networks used Australian telecommunications structures.
There was also consideration around whether the digital spy agency should be involved in defending critical national infrastructure.
"The department will continue to work on these questions with colleagues in other departments and agencies," Mr Pezzullo said.
"It will not now - or ever under my leadership - provide advice to government suggesting that ASD be allowed to acquire unchecked data collection powers in relation to Australian citizens."
