Spinning the secrets of state: the history and politics of intelligence politicisation in Australia

Australian security intelligence organisations collect, analyse and disseminate information relevant to the security of the nation and the protection of its citizens. Ideally, the intelligence function should be politically neutral, unbiased, and detached from the policy objectives of the government it serves. Its purpose is to supply impartial advice to political leaders to assist with the development of national security policy. But what happens when intelligence ceases to be impartial and is used as a political means to support a policy preference? More significantly, what happens when intelligence is manipulated to achieve this aim? The short answer is that intelligence becomes politicised. But findings in this study show that the term ‘politicised intelligence’ is perhaps a simple way of describing a complex process. Questions remain about what this process involves, how it occurs, and what function it serves that require a more detailed explanation. <br><br>Spinning the secrets of state answers these questions by providing a detailed history of intelligence politicisation in Australia from 1901 to 1975. While a growing body of research explores the history and functions of the Australian intelligence community, reasons as to why political leaders might engage in politicising intelligence, and questions regarding how it can occur, have been subject to a lack of candour and have not received adequate attention. This study addresses that problem by identifying the forms and clarifying its emergence. It develops an empirical framework in which to determine and theorise about how politicisation occurs, paying close attention to identifying and explaining the conditions enabling this behaviour to arise. <br><br>