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28 April 2004

1. Editorial
2. Brief news from Engineers Australia
3. Brief news from around the country
4. Release of Homeland Security edition of refereed journal
5. Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme announced
6. Queensland University of Technology planned Risk & Crisis Management courses
7. Implementation plans for critical infrastructure protection research priority
8. Parliamentary cybercrime report released
9. US-Australia bilateral talks on critical infrastructure protection

1 Editorial
One of the recommendations from the Engineers Australia 2003 report on critical infrastructure protection was the need for opportunities continuing professional development for engineers and others. As such we are organising a series of workshops on a range of topics. For a full list, download flyer here. Next ones are:

• Suicide attack mitigation: Canberra: 3 May
• Counter-terrorism - Hazard identification, risk assessment & reduction: Melbourne: 17 & 18 May
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (C.P.T.E.D.): Melbourne: 25 May

Unfortunately we had to postpone the short-course on Protecting structures from blast, shock & impact by Prof. Theodor Krauthammer as he now can't make it in May. The Melbourne course is now on 22 July and Sydney on 27 July.

2 Brief news from Engineers Australia

1. The May edition of Engineers Australia Magazine is running a feature on security philosophies and technologies. If you have a story, contact the journalist Maria Kalli on 02 9438 1533, or for advertising Terry Marsden on 02 9438 1533.
2. Engineers Australia was mentioned in two articles on security in the Business Section of The Australian newspaper on 28 February 2004.

3 Brief news from around the country

1. CSIRO has appointed Dr Greg Simpson as their new Coordinator for Secure Australia. Greg is currently and will remain the Deputy Chief, CSIRO Molecular Science. tel: 03 9545 2519, email: Greg.Simpson@csiro.au
2. The bilateral meetings between Australia and the US on critical infrastructure protection were held last week.
3. Analytical Service has made available a technical note on the failure of a reinforced concrete plate due to a close-range explosion. It can be downloaded here. Information Dr Gregory Szuladzinski, Analytical Service, tel 02 9418-1842, email ggg@bigpond.net.au, www.simulate-events.com
4. Australian Defence Magazine is expanding its coverage to include homeland security issues. Information: Judy Hinz, tel 07 3348 3808.
5. Security costs for Iraq reconstruction contracts now cost up to 15% According to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, security cost for Iraq reconstruction contracts now cost between 10% and 15%. This massive cost plus the "continued and significant threats to human life being experienced in the "Green Zone" and throughout Iraq, the inability to accurately predict the costs of security (including insurance) raises questions about the need for more funding - Iraqi, donor, or U.S. - to accomplish the reconstruction mission" according to a report by the US Inspector General and the Coalition Provisional Authority. The report is available from here.
6. A newsletter subscriber, Viv Crouch, has suggested that the journal of the International Test and Evaluation Association has an increasing range of homeland security related articles. Info at http://www.itea.org/

4 Release of Homeland Security edition of refereed journal

Release of Homeland Security edition of refereed journal Engineers Australia has released a special edition of the Australian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Engineering focusing on security. The publication is an activity of the Engineering a Secure Australia project run by Engineers Australia, which is a two year activity to enhance homeland security by engineering security into the nation's infrastructure, information technology and elements of the built environment.

This issue includes the following papers

• Risk assessment as a decision-making tool to mitigate blast damage to built infrastructure
• Safeguarding transport networks: the assessment of network vulnerability
• Security by design - the new challenges of terrorism to airport terminals
• The threat of surprise
• Design considerations for protection of building facades from bomb blasts
• Analysis of blast loads on buildings
• Blast-resilient design for buildings structures
• Retrofitting existing masonry buildings to resist explosions
• Counter terrorism & critical infrastructure protection: managing them with GIS technologies
• Critical infrastructure in speech and sound processing and its effect on the security of Australia
• Securing critical information network infrastructures from attacks

Engineers Australia Member's $44, Non-members $55 plus $5.50 for postage To order a copy phone EA Books on 02 9438 5355, fax 02 9438 5343 or order online at www.bookshop.engaust.com.au

5 Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme announced
Almost $45 million will be available for projects which help to reduce the level of damage from natural disasters in Australia under a new program. The money would be available for projects such as warning systems, land and building purchase schemes in high-risk areas, risk management studies, retarding basins and levees and other engineering works to protect against damage.

Fire services, catchment management groups, state government agencies and local government and community groups were some of the bodies eligible to apply for funding. The program was not available to individuals.

Under this program, the Australian Government in partnership with the states and territories will help communities develop a clearer understanding of the natural disaster risks they face and assist them to adopt strategies to minimise those risks. The Disaster Mitigation Package followed a review of natural disaster mitigation arrangements commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments three years ago and endorsed in principle by the council last December.

Project applications will shortly be sought for 2004-05 NDMP funding. Further information can be found at www.dotars.gov.au/naturaldisasters, by calling 1800 026 22.

6 Queensland University of Technology planned Risk & Crisis Management courses

The School of International Business (Faculty of Business) at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane is planning a both an Executive Development education, and undergraduate and postgraduate level courses in risk management. The areas to be covered include Risk Management, Business Continuity Planning and Crisis Management across multi-disciplinary settings. Emphasis will also be given to critical infrastructure protection issues and management systems relevant to domestic and international business (i.e. trade, supply chains and port security).

The Executive Development offerings will, initially, focus on comprehensive vulnerability analyses for organisations and involve the use of group-based simulations. This work is still under development but it is intended that an initial vulnerability analysis workshop be held in the latter part of this year.

Teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate level is planned to begin in early 2005.

Information: Dr Paul Barnes, School of International Business, Queensland University of Technology, tel 07-3864-9019, email: p.barnes@qut.edu.au.

7 Implementation plans for critical infrastructure protection research priority
Safeguarding Australian, including the protection of critical infrastructure, was designated as one of the Australian Government's National Research Priorities. In January 2003, all research agencies and funding bodies were requested to develop implementation plans to ensure that the priorities were addressed.

These reports were handed to the Government in May 2003. These reports are available on the website The agency reports which make a reference to critical infrastructure protection are:

• Defence Science & Technology Organisation
• Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation
• Geoscience
• Australia Bureau of Meteorology

The reports are available at http://www.dest.gov.au/priorities/implementation.htm With the addition of several new goals within the priorities (covered in Jan 2004 newsletter), the agencies have been asked to submit additional implementation plans to cover these. They are to be supplied to the Minister by mid year.

8 Parliamentary cybercrime report released
The Australian Parliament's Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission has tabled its report into cybercrime. Called Cybercrime, it contains a chapter on national critical infrastructure.

The main point from this chapter was about the level of coordination of activities and informing stakeholders of developments.

The chapter's conclusion was that "The Committee is concerned that although there is a proliferation of potential solutions [to identifying threats, risk treatments and prosecutions], and many groups which are addressing the issues, there lacks a central body which has the function of keeping track of potential threats and solutions; such an organisation could act as a clearing house for this information, ensuring that it was disseminated widely and appropriately. Although the Committee sees the ACC [Australian Crime Commission] and the AHTCC [Australian High Tech Crime Centre] contributing to this task, it does not believe that a law enforcement agency is best suited to the task." Report here>>

9 US-Australia bilateral talks on critical infrastructure protection

Last week, Australian government and industry representatives held discussion with US representatives on critical infrastructure protection. Discussions covered the protection of critical infrastructure sectors including communications, energy, financial services, food, health, water and transport, as well as interdependencies between infrastructure sectors.

According to the Attorney-General, Mr Ruddock, "The USA is impressed with the speed with which Australia's Trusted Information Sharing Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection has been developing and Australia and the USA have agreed to establish sector points of contact in key infrastructure sectors including energy, communications and water".

The Australian delegation was led by Mr Peter Ford, Attorney-General's Department and Mr Keith Besgrove from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The Australian delegation was made up of representatives from Australian Government, Australian industry and the States and Territories. Most of the Australian organisations represented are also members of the Trusted Information Sharing Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection.

The United States Delegation was led by Ambassador Rose M. Likins, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, US Department of State, and consisted of representatives from the United States Government and industry.

Below is the communique, released on 23 April 2004

THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIAN DELEGATIONS TO THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION BILATERAL TALKS 2004

Australia and the United States of America concluded three days of successful talks in Canberra, Australia on critical infrastructure protection, 23 April 2004.

Our two countries have a long history of working together to counter threats to their populations and the critical infrastructures on which we all rely. We have a joint commitment to the protection of our people and these infrastructures. As such, there is much that we can learn from one another. This is the fourth round of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) talks between our nations since 2000. Previous discussions have centred around cyber/information technology issues; however, this year's discussions expanded for the first time to include physical infrastructure issues.

The Australian Delegation was led by Mr Peter Ford from the Attorney-General's Department and Mr Keith Besgrove from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The delegation was made up of representatives from Australian Government, Australian industry and the States and Territories. Most of the Australian organisations represented are also members of the Trusted Information Sharing Network for Critical Infrastructure Protection.

The United States Delegation was led by Ambassador Rose M. Likins, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, US Department of State, and consisted of representatives from the United States Government, industry, and academia.

Delegates from both countries spoke about protection of sectors including communications, energy, financial services, food, health, water and transport. The talks also examined the hidden and complex interdependencies between infrastructure sectors. Discussions were divided between two days of government-industry meetings with one day of government-to-government and industry-to-industry talks. Both governments support the industry dialogues and encourage industry and academia to continue their collaborative efforts to identify initiatives and areas for further dialogue, and to raise matters essential for government attention.

Taking all the issues presented into account, Australia and the United States of America acknowledge the importance of their existing close cooperation in critical infrastructure protection matters; the requirement to continue our partnership with the private sector in identifying solutions as industry owns and operates most of these vital systems; and the need to share information between governments, the private sectors, and academia.

Both delegations note several emerging issues, challenges, and areas of common concern. We resolve to regularly communicate on identified emergent issues and on work of common interest together - and with other countries - on key activities that include:

• capacity building with and in other countries to better protect information systems internationally;
• the promotion of security education and the creation of a "culture of security" to inculcate CIP into all processes; and
• the identification of cooperative efforts on practical objectives which may include CIP modelling and threat assessment and joint research and development

Both delegations look forward to their next meeting which will be hosted by the United States of America in approximately one year's time.