Very interesting. Seemingly out of the blue, but long overdue :
Check the incredible growth of Australia's six (official) intelligence agencies since September 11, 2001 :The ballooning powers and funding of Australia's spy agencies will be interrogated for the first time in six years, with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announcing an independent review of their role.
"The review will ensure Australia continues to have a well-coordinated, appropriately resourced and adaptable intelligence system that supports our national interests," Ms Gillard said.
...ASIO has undergone a 535 per cent increase to its funding since 2001...its budget appropriations have grown from $69 million to over half a billion annually since 2001.
The Full Story Is Here...ASIS and ONA have experienced growth rates of, respectively, 344 per cent and 443 per cent.
Budget cutbacks are obviously on the cards. The intelligence agencies have to prove, presumably, they are vital, useful and cannot afford to have their budgets and staff numbers cut. But how will they go about convincing the Gillard government?
One to watch.
