Labor gives parliament only limited powers to examine unlawful spying after Timor-Leste scandal

ALP had pledged to give parliamentary intelligence committee certain powers to enable an investigation of Timor-Leste bugging scandal

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Australia’s parliament will be given only a limited ability to scrutinise unlawful and improper intelligence operations, prompting concerns it will not be able to meet a pre-election promise for an investigation of the 2004 Timor-Leste bugging scandal.

In opposition, Labor pledged to drastically increase the level of parliamentary oversight of intelligence agencies, including by allowing the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security (PJCIS) to examine specific operations mounted by Australia’s spies.

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