He steps into the role on 7 April
NSW Crime Commissioner Michael Barnes has been named the inspector-general of intelligence and security.
He begins his five-year term on 7 April, succeeding Dr Christopher Jessup KC. Barnes’ experience in leading independent oversight bodies in several jurisdictions contributed to his appointment to the role.
Barnes became NSW Crime Commissioner in 2020, heading up a team of about 160. He was part of the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Taskforce and the NSW State Security Groups spearheading and coordinating the state government’s strategic policy and intergovernmental arrangements on counter-terrorism and national security.
He also served as NSW ombudsman from 2017 to 2020 and NSW state coroner from 2014 to 2017. He was appointed the first Queensland state coroner in 2003.
Barnes was once chief officer of the Queensland Criminal Justice Commission’s complaint section and head of the Queensland University of Technology’s School of Justice.
This appointment was lauded by the Law Council of Australia.
“As greater powers are afforded to our intelligence and security agencies, the IGIS’s responsibility to ensure that Australia’s clandestine services act legally, with propriety, and consistently with human rights, is more important than ever”, president Tania Wolff said. “Trust in our intelligence agencies strengthens national security and oversight by the IGIS promotes confidence in the exercise of their functions”.
The Office of the Inspector-General supervises and evaluates the activities of Australia’s national intelligence agencies.
