The Director-General and ASD manage probity and the management of conflicts of interest with the utmost seriousness.
ASD undertakes procurement activities in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Consistent with ASD and Australian Public Service conflict of interest frameworks, the Director-General of ASD, Ms Abigail Bradshaw CSC, has made all appropriate declarations, including during her previous tenure as Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Appropriate and rigorous management strategies have been in place. These include declarations in writing, verbal declarations in meetings, and restricting Ms Bradshaw’s involvement in any relevant capability decisions. Ms Bradshaw has not been the delegate for, or involved in, any decision to award or not award contracts to BAE Systems Digital Intelligence during her tenure at ASD.
The own-motion inquiry being undertaken into ASD by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, as reported in the IGIS’s Annual Report 2024-25 and referred to in the AFR articles, relates to an ASD operational matter, and does not relate to the Director-General of ASD.