Intelligence and the Function of Government : Melbourne University Publishing : 9780522873085 : 0522873081 : 30 Mar 2018 : Intelligence plays an important, albeit often hidden hand, in the everyday function of government. Australia's intelligence agencies&;collectively referred to as the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC)&;are an established and fundamental component of the bureaucracy: they keep watch on potential problems in the name of national security, exploit weaknesses in the name of national interests, and build a picture of the complexities of the broader world for their consumers&;other domestic government departments, partner intelligence agencies overseas and, most importantly, Australia's policy-makers. Their aim is to provide the government with 'information'&;for that is essentially what intelligence is&;to better enable it to tackle the issues confronting it; to be better armed, informed and forewarned of what might lay ahead; and to facilitate coherent policy-maki