Defence Intelligence Organisation

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The Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) is an Australian government intelligence agency responsible for assessing intelligence obtained from or provided by other Australian and foreign intelligence agencies, supporting Defence and Government decision-making and the planning and conduct of Australian Defence Force operations. The DIO is located in Canberra.

The DIO is one of three organisations that comprise the Defence Intelligence Group, which in turn falls under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Secretary for Intelligence and Security. These three organisations are as follows.

Defence Intelligence Organisation
Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation
Defence Signals Directorate

[edit] Organisation

The DIO was established in 1990 as the strategic-level, all-source intelligence assessment agency for the Department of Defence. It is not an autonomous body; unlike the Office of National Assessments, the DIO is a subordinate organization within the Department of Defence with no separate statutory mandate or direct budget line. The organization's character and purpose is defined by its position within the defence portfolio.

The DIO is an integrated civilian–military organization, with the majority of staff being public servants recruited through either the defence Graduate Program or direct entry.

[edit] Operations

The DIO's assessments focus on the Asia-Pacific region and cover strategic, political, defence, military, economic, scientific and technical areas. The DIO's intelligence products help inform decisions about Australia's military activities at home and abroad, Defence acquisition processes, force readiness decisions, strategic policy, international relations and defence scientific developments.

The DIO also maintains close links with the intelligence agencies of other allied countries. In addition, the DIO maintains links with the intelligence agencies of a range of other countries to foster dialogue and the exchange of information and as a contribution to defence relationships with regional countries.

Australian troops deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq were briefed by the DIO on enemy weapons and forces.