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15
March 2004
Special
edition
- Questions
in the Commonwealth Parliament
- Communique
from the National Counter-Terrorism Committee
- Australian
Government highlights transport security initiatives
1 Questions in the Commonwealth Parliament
1-1 International Maritime Organisation:
International Ship and Port Facility Security Code
Answers were provided on 24 March 2004 to Mr McClelland,
Shadow Minister for Homeland Security and asked of the Minister for
Transport and Regional Services, upon notice, on 10 February 2004.
(Q1) Has Australia implemented all necessary measures
to ensure compliance with the International Maritime Organization's
International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; if not, which
measures remain to be implemented.
(Q2) What is the estimated date at which all outstanding
measures will be implemented.
(Q3) Are there any required measures that will
not be fully implemented by 1 July 2004.
Mr Anderson-The answer to the honourable member's
question is as follows:
(A1) The Maritime Transport Security Act 2003
(the Act) and the Maritime Transport Security Regulations 2003 (the
Regulations) were drafted consistent with Australia's obligations
under the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea and Part A of the International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code. The Act and Regulations require maritime industry participants
to be compliant with the maritime security regime by 1 July 2004.
(A2) 1 July 2004.
(A3) The Australian Government is working with
State and Territory governments and with industry to have all required
measures implemented by 1 July 2004.
1-2 Transport: Rail Security
Answers were provided on 10 February 2004 to Mr
McClelland, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security and asked of the
Minister for Transport and Regional Services, upon notice, on September
2003:.
(Q1) What steps has he taken since 11 September
2001 to (a) enhance the security of (i) railroad infrastructure, (ii)
major rail facili-ties, and (iii) key rail hubs, (b) enhance the security
of passengers travelling by rail, and (c) ensure that cargo transported
by rail does not pose a threat to Australia's national security.
Mr Anderson-The answer to the honourable member's
question is as follows:
(A1) Responsibility for the rail system in Australia
rests with the State and Territory Governments. Commonwealth involvement
in the operation of rail infrastructure is limited to the intercapital
standard gauge network managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.
The remainder of the commercial rail system is operated by either
State Government entities or the private sector. In these circumstances
the security of rail infrastructure, the associated facilities, hubs,
passengers and freight is primarily the responsibility of the relevant
State and Territory Government entities and the private sector rail
owners and operators. However, rail infrastructure and facilities
are being incorporated in the development of the Australian Transport
Council's National Transport Security Strategy together with other
land transport infrastructure. The strategy will assist transport
operators to incorporate information about the threat from terrorism
into security assessment and planning processes. The State and Territory
Governments have also identified critical transport infrastructure
including elements of the rail network as part of the National Critical
Infrastructure Protection Process. This process involves developing
security measures for the identified infrastructure that can be implemented
to respond to changes in the nature or level of threat. Government
officials have also been working with the private sector operators
to define the risk context as a basis for the development of appropriate
security measures.
1-3 Critical Infrastructure
Advisory Council
Answers were provided on 22 March 2004 to Mr McClelland,
Shadow Minister for Homeland Security and asked of the Attorney-General,
upon notice, on 7 October 2003.
(Q1) Who is on the Critical Infrastructure Advisory
Council and which industry sectors do they represent.
(Q2) In respect of each meeting of the council,
(a) when did it meet, (b) what matters did it consider, and (c) what
were the outcomes.
The 8 page response is available here.
2 Communique from the National
Counter-Terrorism Committee
Below is the text of the communique dated 15 March
2004
The National Counter-Terrorism
Committee (NCTC) met today via teleconference from Canberra to discuss
security arrangements in Australia, including transport security,
in light of the terrorist attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004. Senior
transport officials from all jurisdictions also participated in the
meeting.
ASIO and ONA provided an update on information
regarding the Madrid attack and the current national security environment.
The Committee noted that, while there is no known specific threat
to Australia, the level of national counter-terrorism alert remains
at medium, as it has since 12 September 2001, meaning that a terrorist
attack in Australia could occur.
The Committee further noted the significant ongoing
work undertaken around Australia to strengthen counter-terrorism preparedness,
awareness and response.
The Committee noted intelligence advice that the
terrorist threat to Australia comes from Al Qaida and associated groups
and that Al Qaida's interest in Australia dates from before September
2001. It further noted that threat levels in the UK and USA had not
changed since the Madrid attacks.
The Committee further noted that in the last 12
months there have been terrorist attacks in a number of countries
including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Turkey, the Philippines,
Russia and now Spain.
The Office of Transport Security briefed the meeting
and jurisdictions exchanged information on transport security. The
Committee noted continuing enhancements to transport security across
Australia. The biannual meeting of the Heads of Transport Departments
is scheduled for later this week. It will discuss, amongst other things,
further work on transport security in all sectors, and progression
of the National Transport Security Strategy, which is based on international
best practice.
In light of the Madrid attacks, the NCTC agreed
that senior officials from transport and other relevant agencies in
all jurisdictions will meet in Sydney within the next two weeks to
review measures taken to date and to examine further potential measures
that may be required. In particular, discussions will draw on the
experience of NSW agencies, which put in place extensive urban transport
security arrangements at the time of the 2000 Olympics and subsequently.
The Committee noted advice from jurisdictions
that appropriate measures are in place in view of the current threat
level and that additional measures can be put in place should that
threat level change. There is close cooperation between the Australian
Government and all States and Territories in all areas of security,
including transport security.
Discussions focused not only on transport security,
but also ranged across the broader national counter-terrorism arrangements
in place under the National Counter-Terrorism Plan, including preparedness
in the health, emergency services and Defence sectors.
The national counter-terrorism arrangements are
regularly tested through a programme of national exercises. Recent
exercises have specifically tested the transport sector. The first
multijurisdictional exercise, Mercury 04, will be conducted
later this month and will test our national preparedness and response
arrangements across a range of contingencies.
The most effective actions are preventative. The
Committee noted that a high level of alertness throughout the private
and public sectors can provide vital information and is one of the
best mechanisms to prevent acts of terrorism. Suspicious behaviour
or events should be reported to security authorities. Members of the
public should report anything suspicious immediately to the relevant
authorities, including through the 24 hour toll free National Security
Hotline - 1800 123 400. In the case of emergencies, contact should
be made through 000.
3 Australian Government highlights transport
security initiatives
In the light of the Madrid attacks, Mr Anderson
put out a media release on 17 March to highlight the work done to
secure transport infrastructure from terrorist attacks.
"Since 11 September 2001, the Australian Government
has acted decisively to increase the already high level of security
in Australia's transport industry," Mr Anderson said.
"We have established a dedicated Office of Transport
Security and are currently setting up a Transport Security Operations
Centre to coordinate transport security issues and responses to changes
in the nature and level of threat in the aviation and maritime sectors.
"The National Transport Security Strategy is being
prepared in consultation with the states and territories to describe
respective roles and responsibilities, and identify security strategies
across different transport modes and jurisdictions.
"In aviation security, recent measures have included
increased passenger and checked and carry-on luggage screening, increased
Australian Protective Service presence at airports, greater controls
over access to airport secure areas, secondary screening for international
services and tighter controls over the carriage of domestic and international
cargo.
"We have introduced explosives trace detection
at airport screening points, improved cockpit door security requirements,
100 per cent checked bag screening for all international flights by
December 2004, extended requirements for Aviation Security Identity
Cards and background checking for all pilots and trainee pilots.
"The Aviation Transport Security Act 2004
passed the Parliament earlier this month, and work is continuing on
drafting the associated regulations.
"The Government is spending $93 million on a further
major expansion of the nation's aviation security regime and has committed
$14 million towards a grants program to assist airports new to the
regulatory regime to implement security measures."
The first set of regulations for the Maritime
Transport Security Act 2003 were passed in Parliament in December
2003, in response to the International Maritime Organization's International
Ship and Port Facility Security Code, and come into effect from 1
July 2004.
"Australia's maritime industry has responded well
to the requirement for security plans to be in place by that date
and I am confident that it will be well placed for continued international
trade activity.
"A lot of high-level and grass roots work is being
done to ensure the security of Australia's transport networks and
infrastructure.
"The Standing Committee on Transport's working
group on transport security, which includes representatives of Australian
Government and state and territory government transport departments,
has developed a menu of possible preventive security measures that
can be implemented by states and territories and which correspond
with the four levels of national alert.
"Last year, the Australian Government hosted a
national workshop on land transport risks - including mass urban transport
- for state and territory officials. All states and territories participated,
with some going on to hold their own workshops for transport operators
and others planning them for the near future.
The next meeting of the Standing Committee on
Transport (chaired by the Secretary of the Federal Department and
Transport and Regional Services and including Directors-General of
Transport from each State and Territory) will be held in Devonport
tomorrow, with transport security the key issue for discussion.
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