Public service uncooperative in 1974 intelligence inquiry: papers
Updated
A key member of a 1974 Royal Commission into Australia's intelligence and security services has revealed the extent of obstruction from some senior members of the public service to the inquiry.
The Hope Royal Commission was set up by the Whitlam Government to look into Australia's intelligence and security agencies.
Many documents related to the commission have been released by the National Archives of Australia in Canberra.
George Brownbill, who assisted the commissioner, says the inquiry received more help from British and American intelligence agencies than from those in Australia.
He says the upper echelons of the Australian public service were characterised by a euphoria of secrecy.
He also says the agencies had a scattergun approach and relied too much on tittle tattle, mostly about the communist leanings of particular individuals.
