Two of the fastest-growing agencies in recent years the government's overseas aid organisation, AusAID, and domestic spy agency ASIO have been forced to rein in their rapid expansion. AusAID's 1850-strong workforce will add just 38 staff in 2012 … Read more at Sydney Morning Herald.

Most government agencies have had their budgets trimmed (ASIO is an exception) and we've re-banked $4.6 billion by calling off the corporate tax cuts you on the other side of the House were refusing to pass anyway: explain that to your masters. … Read more at Brisbane Times.

The Government is proposing reforms to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979, the Telecommunications Act 1997, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Act 1979 and the Intelligence Services Act 2001. … Read more at PS News.

Pirate Party slams 'unjust' surveillance upgradeProvisions under the ASIO Act for the intelligence agency to request warrants are to be modernised and streamlined, and the agency is to gain the power to disrupt a target computer for the purposes of accessing the information on it or even to … Read more at Delimiter.

Labor's Titanic achievementHow about with the joint intelligence and security committee that oversees ASIS and ASIO I mean, how onerous can it be once you've got the difference between your grassy and your Shannon knolls (or is it Nolls Maybe it's not so easy after all).and more » … Read more at Sydney Morning Herald.

The government also wants to update the definition of “computer” under the ASIO Act. The government is also considering amending the ASIO Act to enable the disruption of a target computer that ASIO wants access to, and has a warrant for.and more » … Read more at ZDNet Australia.

An authorised intelligence operations scheme for ASIO officers will be examined, under which agents are afforded the same protection from criminal and civil liability that Australian Federal Police receive. The committee will also consult on measures … Read more at The Australian.

THE government is pursuing a significant expansion of the Australian intelligence agencies' powers, including the creation of ASIO super warrants, extending search warrants to six months and forcing upon private industry a powerful data retention … Read more at Sydney Morning Herald.

Sotheby's auction floor erupted into applause as Edvard Munch's The Scream sold for $119.9 million, setting a new record. By Steve Cannane A boy endures separation from his father because of a negative ASIO security assessment.and more » … Read more at ABC Online.

ASIO security assessment splits family/ Refugee family torn apart by ASIO … Read more at ABC Online.