The country's next national security legislation watchdog will be Grant Donaldson after Attorney-General Christian Porter announced on Friday he would fill the role left vacant for four months.
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Mr Porter announced Mr Donaldson would become the fourth Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) after he was announced as the acting INSLM in July 2020.
"Mr Donaldson brings a wealth of legal and public policy expertise to the role," Mr Porter said in a media release.
"He served as the Solicitor-General for Western Australia from 2012 to 2016. Mr Donaldson has held senior leadership positions in the Western Australian Bar Association and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia."
The role was previously held by James Renwick, who delivered his final INSLM report in July 2020 on the controversial Assistance and Access Act passed into law in December 2018.
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The position was created in 2011 as an independent body to assess the effectiveness and reported issues of national security and counter-terrorism legislation within Australia.
It forms a third of the three oversight bodies over the Australian Intelligence Community alongside the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The IGIS role has also been vacant since Margaret Stone retired from the role in August 2020. Jake Blight, who's been with the office since 2012, is acting in the role.
IGIS maintained it was continuing its regular duties during the transition period.
"Since the end of Ms Stone's period as the Inspector-General the Acting Inspector-General and the Office have continued the regular program of oversight, inspections and complaint handling functions," a spokesperson for IGIS said.
"The Acting Inspector-General and IGIS staff also continue to meet regularly with ASIO Staff."
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