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23 February 2004

1. Editorial
2. Brief News from Engineers Australia
3. Brief News from around the country
4. Report identifies research priorities for domestic security
5. Report on the 2004 Engineering Security Research Forum
6. Enhanced natural disaster mitigation and management
7. Security standards developments
8. Essay 1: Terrorism 2003/2004
9. Essay 2: International Terrorism and the quest for more effective security

1 Editorial
Over the next 12 months we will be seeing a rapid increases in the number of domestic security initiatives rolled out. This is because not only has much of the policy been formed on which the programs are based, but we have an upcoming national election in which domestic security issues will be of paramount importance. Upcoming developments appear to include:

• a homeland security-style audit of precautions against terrorist attacks (see below),
• a review of intelligence activities,
• challenges in meeting the maritime security requirements in the expected timeframe,
• the development of business awareness activities to ensure that business leaders integrate the new security environment into their risk management arrangements.

Stay tuned to this newsletter for the latest developments. Athol Yates

2 Brief news from Engineers Australia

1. National President, Doug Jones, announced that Engineers Australia will be exploring the concept of producing the Domestic Security Reportcard - An Industry Perspective by mid year. This will be similar to Engineers Australia's highly regarded, evidence based, Australian Infrastructure Reportcard which has played a major role in raising awareness of the current state of our national infrastructure. "A Domestic Security Reportcard was foreshadowed in our report last year, and given the increased intensity of interest in Australia's security, its production will be timely and, I am sure it will welcomed by governments and industry as a benchmark for decision making on development projects in the future" he said. Download the full speech.
2. Bruce Howard, Security Commissioner, launched the publication, Thematic research priorities for the protection of the built environment including critical infrastructure - An industry perspective, on 10 February 2004. See below.
3. The highly successful 2004 Engineers Security Research Forum was held on 10 February 2004. See below.
4. The Suicide Mitigation Workshop has been postponed until April and dates will be published in the next newsletter.
5. Engineers Australia was mentioned in a somewhat sensational article in the Daily Telegraph on 16 February.
6. Athol Yates made a presentation at the ASIS Security Quest conference on 16 & 17 February. His paper, entitled Capturing the security dividend, is available here. The conference was well attended and informative.
7. Athol Yates made a presentation at the ACT chapter of the Business Continuity Institute on 4th February on the thematic research priorities for the protection of the built environment.

3 Brief news from around the country

1. It appears that the Commonwealth is planning a homeland security-style audit of precautions against terrorist attacks and illegal entry into Australia. It was reported in the Australian newspaper on 18 February that a review will be commissioned to audit the security preparedness of ports, airports, critical infrastructure, costal surveillance and other areas. The aim of the review is to determine how effective the current and planned arrangements are in mitigating the terrorism risks.
2. The position of the CSIRO Coordinator of the Secure Australia Program still remains vacant. The former Coordinator. Ian Sare, has moved to DSTO. It is expected that the position will be filled in March. Any queries relating to CSIRO's activities in this field should be directed to Grant Griffiths (tel: 02 9413 7540; email: grant.griffiths@csiro.au).
3. An overview of the work and structure of the Science, Engineering and Technology Unit within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is now available here.

4 Report identifies research priorities for domestic security

The thematic research priorities complement the Safeguarding Australia National Research Priority established by the Australian Government in 2002 and updated in 2003, and research agendas being established by individual groups in specialised areas. The themes provide a linkage between the two. They do this by defining the areas that should be examined in order to comprehensively address the relevant goals under Safeguarding Australia National Research Priority. At the same time they will provide a reminder to those groups developing specific agendas of all the elements required to be progressed simultaneously to develop a layered approach to BE protection.

"Given the tertiary institution's interest in homeland security research, this report provides guidance to academics on industry priorities", said Bruce Howard, Security Commissioner, Engineers Australia. "These thematic research priorities provide a vision of where research can contribute to enhanced BE (including CI) protection and will facilitate greater industry-researcher collaboration as well as providing a framework by which business and social science researchers can also contribute to enhancing national security."

5 Report on the 2004 Engineering Security Research Forum
Over 120 people attended the highly successful 2004 Engineers Security Research Forum on 10 February at Melbourne University. This was the second national Security Research Forum organised by Engineers Australia. Over 48 presentations were made and many of the presentations are at available online. An email will be sent to all newsletter subscribers announcing when the presentations are online. A number have been excluded due to their size and content. Consequently we have produced a CD-ROM of all presentations except for those which the speakers did not want distributed. The cost of the CD is $25. If you want it, email athol yates. In the next few newsletters, a number of the presentations will be featured.

Featured presentation: A risk tool to reduce OHS gratuitous payments & legal fees by up to 60%
While most speakers at the Forum concentrated on catastrophic disaster mitigation, one of the presentations focused on reducing the more common OHS issues in public spaces. Melbourne-based On Line Risk Management have produced an on-line management tool to record, collate and manage incidents and OHS issues and to coordinate investigations, negotiation/conciliation and claims.

It had its genesis 3 years ago when a facility management company supplying operating cleaning, security, maintenance and contractor management at 5 major shopping complexes required a way to reduce its legal fees and other payments relating to OHS incidents. As a result of being able to flag suspicious and duplicate claims, as well as driving good practice in terms of follow up procedures, privacy compliance and file management, ORM system reduced costs for legal fees and other payments for the company by more than 80% over the past three years. Moreover, they have also managed to reduce their PLI premium during this time - an achievement apparently not matched in the industry.

Information: Rob Bailey, Managing Director, 0411 803 419 or www.orm.net.au.

6 Enhanced natural disaster mitigation and management
The Council of Australian Governments has announced upgraded measures for the mitigation, relief and management arrangements of natural disaster. While the focus is on natural disasters, the report states that it takes an 'all hazards' approach. It notes that "approach proposed for dealing with natural disasters is consistent with the national arrangements proposed for such [terrorist, foot & mouth etc] emergencies".

The report, Natural Disasters in Australia: Reforming Mitigation, Relief and Recovery, was released on 2 February. The report will assist in the development of an enhanced national framework for natural disaster management for the benefit of all Australian as it will bring consistency and cooperation to the way we deal with natural disasters. Implementation of the report's recommendations will be overseen by the Australian Emergency Management Committee (AEMC). The AEMC is coordinated by Emergency Management Australia.

From a national perspective, point 1 and 2 of Recommendation 4 has considerable significance. These points are:

• develop and implement a five-year national program of systematic and rigorous disaster risk assessments
• establish a nationally consistent system of data collection, research and analysis to ensure a sound knowledge base on natural disasters and disaster mitigation
  

DOTRS is charged with facilitating this and is planning the first round of consultations with states and territories in March. Following this, they will be consulting with other stakeholders including Engineers Australia. For information on this, contact Peter Lawler at Peter.Lawler@dotars.gov.au. http://www.dotars.gov.au/ndr/index.htm

7 Security standards developments

• Standards Australia is seeking people interested reviewing the draft Security Risk Management Handbook.
• Industry sectors are asked to consider if they believe there is a need for industry-specific versions of the Security Risk Management Handbook. If there is, then Standards Australia may facilitate the development of such handbooks. Information Mark Bezzina mark.bezzina@standards.org.au
  

8 Essay 1: Terrorism 2003/2004
by Clive Williams, Director of Terrorism Studies, Australian National University

Noticeable features in 2003 were the decline in Al Qaeda central control and an increase in affiliate Muslim extremist activity. This was mainly due to the number of arrests worldwide of senior and middle ranking Al Qaeda operatives.

The downside is that Al Qaeda is rebuilding for the future, with new, younger, and more dynamic commanders. The decline in central control has meant that terrorism "spectaculars" are less likely, but there are now more frequent, and less predictable, attacks at a regional level. More>>

9 Essay 2: International Terrorism and the Quest for More Effective Security
The current international terrorist threat posed by al-Qa'ida and its affiliates is likely to significantly impact on global economies for several more years. The key to effectively managing this security environment is the implementation of a coherent security risk management system that is preventively focused, provides a sense of proportion, including cost-benefit considerations, and results in an appropriate level of protection for people and assets. More>>