The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) is responsible for:
- Issuing security clearances where they are sponsored by an Australian Government entity or otherwise authorised by the Australian Government.
- Seeking informed consent from applicants to collect, use and disclose their personal information.
- Assessing an applicant’s suitability to hold a security clearance by:
- Considering an applicant’s integrity, maturity, trustworthiness, honesty, resilience, tolerance and loyalty.
- Conducting the prescribed minimum personnel security checks.
- Resolving any doubt in the national interest.
Protective Security Policy Framework
AGSVA operates in accordance with the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF):
- Section 12 - Eligibility and suitability of personnel
- Section 13 - Ongoing assessment of personnel
- Section 14 - Separating personnel.
Governance Board
The AGSVA Governance Board provides strategic oversight and monitors the progress of service delivery business reform and systems development. The Board is responsible for:
- setting the AGSVA Service Level Charter
- setting priorities for the processing of security clearance assessments
- reviewing and setting fees
- reporting annually to the Secretaries Board | PM&C (pmc.gov.au)
Membership includes representatives from:
- Defence (Chair)
- Australian Public Service Commission
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- Australian Signals Directorate
- Department of Finance
- Department of Home Affairs
- Department of Human Services
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Office of National Intelligence
- The Attorney-General’s Department
Service Level Charter
The AGSVA Service Level Charter describes the agreed security clearance assessment service expectations and the mutual obligations that exist between AGSVA and its customers, including:
- the services to be delivered
- key performance indicators
- standards for service delivery
- governance arrangements
- the responsibilities of agencies
- the fees payable for the services.
Stakeholder Engagement Forum
The AGSVA Stakeholder Engagement Forum (SEF) is one of AGSVA’s key customer engagement mechanisms, drawing together representatives across government to discuss AGSVA’s service delivery, performance and sponsor requirements. Membership includes representatives from:
- Defence (Chair)
- Attorney-General’s Department
- Austrade
- Australian Federal Police
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- Australian Taxation Office
- Department of Defence
- Department of Finance
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Department of Home Affairs
- Office of National Intelligence
- Services Australia