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The Department of Defence has committed to strengthening its security policy and practices applying to weapons, munitions and explosives following a recent audit.
According to Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson's media release, the key recommendations of the audit include:
- "introducing higher levels of physical security and access controls across Defence's weapons, munitions and explosives storage facilities;
- enhancing personnel security checking procedures for individuals handling weapons, munitions and explosives;
- introducing more searches at all large scale weapons, munitions and explosives facilities;
- implementing a mandatory 'two person' policy to prevent unsupervised access to weapons, munitions and explosives, including during disposal activities;
- creating a weapons, munitions and explosives security section in the Defence Security Authority with a capability to audit, review compliance and mandate remediation of WME security issues;
- ensuring a Defence wide understanding of weapons, munitions and explosives security requirements through a single reference point managed by the Defence Security Authority;
- undertaking a security validation program across all Defence weapons, munitions and explosives storage facilities;
- more rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the security performance of contractors with a role in managing and handling weapons munitions and explosives; and
- introducing a Defence wide security information system to monitor security management procedures and performance.
The audit recommended that there should be a single authority within Defence with oversight for weapons, munitions and explosives at all stages of handling from acquisition through to use or disposal. The Vice Chief of the Defence Force, assisted by the Commander Joint Logistics Group, will provide the oversight function."
The New Zealand Department of Corrections has concluded that Global Positioning System (GPS) technology should only be introduced for limited uses following a two year trial.
The technology was deemed to unreliable to replace the existing electronic monitoring system, and instead will be used as a supplement to current technology in the form of retrospective monitoring.
According to a media release from the Department of Corrections, the GPS trials and simultaneous Voice Verification Technology (VVT) formed the following conclusions:
GPS technology :
- should only be used as a retrospective monitoring tool, as there are significant risks associated with its potential use as an active (real time) tool in New Zealand;
- should only be used in conjunction with standard electronic monitoring technology, not as a stand-alone monitoring technology;
- should only be used in situations where it is not possible to obtain sufficient monitoring of the offender using other monitoring methods;
- can be used to retrospectively monitor the whereabouts of offenders on home detention, (and on occasion parole and extended supervision, as long as they are willing and able to co-operate with the requirement to use the equipment appropriately);
- can be a useful tool to retrospectively monitor compliance with large exclusion and inclusion zones, and compliance with approved travel routes; and
- has limited use as a tool to monitor compliance with small inclusion or exclusion zones (including individual buildings).
GPS - limitations
It had been hoped that the trials would demonstrate that GPS monitoring is a useful tool for managing the risk posed by child sex offenders (e.g. by monitoring special conditions to stay away from areas where children are likely to be present, such as schools). However, the trials have shown that there are a number of practical problems associated with this approach (particularly around the size of the boundaries that have to be set, and the limited accuracy of the monitoring information).
GPS - uses
The trials have indicated that there are a relatively small number of circumstances in which GPS technology is the only appropriate method of monitoring the offender's whereabouts. However, where this is the case, the benefits for the individual offender can be significant (e.g. the ability to retain or obtain employment, and the ability to attend a long or distant pro-social activity, that would otherwise not be permitted).
VVT conclusions
The trials concluded that VVT can confirm the identity of an offender, and can be used to make random calls to a specified telephone number, during a specified period.
It has not conclusively demonstrated that VVT can confirm the telephone number used, and thereby the location of the offender. Overseas experience indicates this can be done, so New Zealand research and testing will continue with a view for its use in the proposed Community Detention sentence. This is effectively an electronic curfew sentence that judges might consider suitable for 'boy racer' and some property offenders.
Australia will take part in a Unites States counter-terrorism exercise for the first time next month.
The exercise, entitled Top Officials 4 (or TOPOFF 4), is aimed at testing US preparedness and response systems in relation to a simulated terrorist incident.
Australian Government agencies such as the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence, Australian Federal Police, ANSTO, ARPANSA and ASIO will join Canada and the United Kingdom in the exercise.
TOPOFF 4 begins on 16 October 2007. Australian counter-terrorism exercises will be held in Tasmania and the ACT in the next few months.
Prime Minister John Howard and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe endorsed an Action Plan during this month's APEC Summit to implement the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, which was signed in March.
The Action Plan enhances policy coordination on security issues in the Asia-Pacific and encourages practical cooperation in the areas of defence, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, counter proliferation, peace operations and the exchange of strategic assessments and related information.
The major elements of the Action Plan can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan site here.
Prime Minister John Howard and President George Bush signed a Treaty on Defense Trade Cooperation at the APEC summit earlier this month.
The treaty will provide greater access and sharing of equipment, technology, information and services between the two countries by permitting the licence-free export of defence goods and services between the two governments and approved Australian and US companies.
Australia and the People's Republic of China signed treaties on extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons at this month's APEC Summit.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock signed the treaties on behalf of Australia and China 's Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Yang Jiechi, signed for the People's Republic of China .
Under the prisoner transfer treaty, transfers will be entirely voluntary and will require the consent of both countries, as well as the sentenced person.
The Treaties are to be tabled in Parliament and considered by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties before binding treaty action to bring the treaties into force is taken by Australia.
The APEC Data Privacy Pathfinder initiative was endorsed during the recent APEC Summit in Sydney this month to help protect individuals' personal information throughout the region.
The Pathfinder initiative involves a group of APEC economies developing and road-testing a range of practical projects to create a system that will allow business to form its own cross-border privacy rules, and consumers to rely upon 'trustmarks' and regulators within the APEC region to make sure businesses are held accountable to privacy promises.
Thirteen APEC member economies agreed to participate in Pathfinder projects including Australia; Canada; Chile; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Peru; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States; and Viet Nam.
The NSW State Emergency Service undertook its first training and assessment in alpine search and rescue, last month.
The assessment led to the creation of the Alpine Search and Rescue Unit and was conducted over weekend of 11-12 August after two years of preparation.
Visitors to the alpine area will now enjoy a greater level of protection, with a 17 member strong Alpine Search and Rescue team available should they be required.
The Australian Institute of Criminology has released a report entitled Future directions in technology-enabled crime : 2007-09.
The report is designed to highlight future risk areas and the most likely crimes that may arise. Particular focus is placed on the impact these will have for law enforcement, the need for additional resources, law reform, development of cooperative arrangements between Australian and overseas public and private sector organisations, and development of public information and educational resources to minimise the risk of widespread harm in the community.
The report can be accessed here.
The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre has released a National Security Practice Note entitled Labor's Flagged National and Homeland Security Principles, Policies and Initiatives.
The Practice Note provides a summary of the Australian Labor Party's national and homeland security principles, policies and initiatives to date.
This paper does not represent Labor policy nor advocate Labor policy. It is part of the Centre's 2007 Election Project. Following publications will update both Labor and Coalition national security policies and initiatives.
The National Security Practice Note is available here.
Australia's aid program in the Pacific
The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade handed down its report into Australia 's aid program in the Pacific on the 20 September.
The report concluded that Pacific economies are underperforming and need to be stimulated by strengthening the private sector- both through encouraging the private-sector to invest and expanding on human capital.
The full report is available here.
The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre is holding the 3 rd annual Mass Transport Security Conference in Melbourne on 7-8 November.
This year's conference will put the spot light on the need to secure the transport system, the areas around it and the people who use it, with a focus on securing those large scale events for which mass transport are essential.
More information and booking details are available here.
Pandemic History Conference
The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre will be holding the 2 nd annual Pandemic History Conference in Canberra on February 26, 2008.
Papers are currently being accepted for inclusion in the conference and published proceedings.
For details contact Athol Yates on (02) 6161 5143 or athol.yates@homelandsecurity.org.au
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