World War I security intelligence was gathered by the Prime Minister's Special Intelligence Bureau, created in 1916. Internal security was more the responsibility of the Commonwealth Police Force [I], which was formed in December 1917 under the War Precautions Regulations. In 1919 the Police Force was wound down and absorbed into the Special Investigation Bureau. This new agency was known as the Investigation Branch of the Attorney-General's Department and included the 'Counter Espionage Bureau'.

The Investigation Branch was responsible for internal security up to the end of World War II, including internees and prisoners of war. After the war, the Investigation Branch was re-organised and renamed the Commonwealth Investigation Service (CIS).

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) was formed on 16 March 1949, and assumed responsibility from the CIS for the investigation of activities subversive to the security of Australia. Among its roles were gathering intelligence and surveillance of both individuals and organisations, including the Communist Party of Australia and its members. In taking on these functions, ASIO took responsibility for many CIS records. In April 1960, the remainder of the CIS was absorbed into the newly formed Commonwealth Police Force – now known as the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

RecordSearch

RecordSearch is the Archives' main finding aid and includes the Archives' item-level database. Unlike other Commonwealth agencies, ASIO is not obliged to send records to the Archives once they reach 25 years. In most instances, records are only transferred in response to applications for access under s40 of the Archives Act 1983.

Details of the files, films, sound recordings and photographs transferred are entered onto our item-level database, part of RecordSearch, which is accessible in all reading rooms of the Archives. The database can be searched by keywords such as the surname of an individual or the name of an organisation.

Indexes

Another method of locating security records is by searching the name index cards, A368. This is an index of names of individuals or organisations which attracted the attention of the CIS before 1949. While the files controlled by this index have been heavily culled over the years, an index reference may lead to a CIS file or occasionally an ASIO or AFP record. It might also be beneficial to search A9106, which is a list of files in A9108, and A9105, the subject index to A8911.

ASIO is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 1982. Access to ASIO records is only available through the Archives Act. ASIO records are eligible for public release after thirty years, subject to the exemption of any material of continuing sensitivity as prescribed by section 33 of the Archives Act. This also applies to ASIO’s holdings of surveillance films (of events) and photographs (of individuals).

If searching the database and indexes fails to identify records, you should submit an application for access. An application for access to records held by ASIO is available in all reading rooms.

When submitting an application for ASIO records, it is useful to support it with information, such as:

• full name and date of birth (or approximate year of birth) of the person for whom you are searching;
• any alias they may have been known by;
• city or state/territory where the person lived when of possible ASIO interest;
• reason for possible AISO interest, eg membership or involvement in political association, participation in demonstrations, association with other persons under surveillance.

The application is forwarded to ASIO, which searches its indexes for relevant material. Including as much information as possible will assist ASIO in its search.

Further information about access to records, including your rights to have access decisions reviewed is available in Fact Sheet 10 – Access to records under the Archives Act and Fact Sheet 12 – What to do if we refuse you access.