Australia's top intelligence and security watchdogs have never asked to look at the plans that telephone and internet providers must have in place for intercepting Australians' phone calls and emails at the direction of security and law enforcement agencies.

This omission in security and intelligence oversight has been revealed by the Attorney-General's Department in response to questioning by independent senator Nick Xenophon at a recent Senate estimates committee hearing.

All of Australia's telecommunications and internet service companies are required by law to lodge with the federal government an interception capability plan. Credit:Pawel Kopczynski

Telephone interception is carried out in great secrecy, and scrutiny and oversight by independent bodies has been presented by Australian governments as the primary means of ensuring the privacy and liberties of law-abiding citizens are not infringed.

All of Australia's 170 telecommunications and internet service companies are required by law to lodge with the federal government an “interception capability plan” that sets out the arrangements, systems and facilities they use to intercept telephone calls and internet traffic for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and law enforcement agencies.