ASIO File
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ASIO file
What is an ASIO file?
A file compiled by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation tracing the habits and movements of an individual of interest to the organisation.
How accurate is an ASIO file?
Subjects of interest who have obtained parts of their files have stated their files contain notable inaccuracies and have noted considerable censured content.
How can an ASIO file be gotten?
Phillip Adams of the ABC claims he was given his ASIO file after attending a public event in his latter years. Mr Adams says he had approached ASIO many times over many years for his file and says he believes ASIO began monitoring him at the age of 16 years. (source)
Aboriginal activist Chicka Dixon has obtained 150 pages of his ASIO files covering a period in the 1960's and 70's when he was actively involved as a leader of the indigenous rights movement. Mr Dixon had long suspected his movements were being monitored by ASIO. At the time of writing this article the author is uncertain what steps Mr Dixon took to obtain pages of his file. Mr Dixon is reported to have always been very open with the knowledge that ASIO was interested in him. (source)
In February 2008 the Sydney Morning Herald reported in a Good Weekend article that artist Mary Hammond went to Canberra in 2003 to ask for her file. The lifestyle article reported she was given 41 pages of her file.
Anecdotal evidence suggests a suspected ASIO file can be obtained by requesting it. The Freedom of Information Act (link) may be of assistance. Successful file owners seem to have taken a direct approach. Tenacity may be required.
Subjects who have obtained parts of their ASIO files
On November 5, 2007 reports appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times claiming Chicka Dixon had obtained 150 pages of his ASIO files. The files are, Mr Dixon says, wildly inaccurate. Chicka Dixon joins activists Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler, Melbourne academic Gary Foley, (source) author Michael Hyde (source) and ABC's Phillip Adams (source) in being among those who have obtained parts of their ASIO files.
On February 23, 2008 Good Weekend reported artist Mary Hammond obtained 41 pages of her file by going to Canberra to ask for the whole thing. Ms Hammond was unaware she had been followed by ASIO during early monitoring of her movements but became aware of the possibility during the Vietnam War protests. She said of her file "there are things here that are totally wrong". A photograph of Mary holding her file showed a large amount of black censure ink had been applied in blocks to her file. (source)
Others known to have obtained parts of their security assessments from ASIO include US peace activist Scott Parkin and Iraqi asylum seekers Mohammed Sagar and Muhammad Faisal. (source)
See also Wikipedia articles
Chicka Dixon Charles Perkins Faith Bandler Gary Foley Mary Hammond Michael Hyde Mohammed Sagar Muhammad Faisal Phillip Adams Scott Perkin
References
Sources author's name, publication date, title, and page numbers.
Related links
Freedom of Information ASIO
This article has been compiled from stories of people who have obtained ASIO files as reported by mainstream media in Australia. The article has been expanded on from a paragraph first written for Wikipedia's Chicka Dixon article.