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28 January 2006

Welcome to another year in which it is hoped that the pace of developments will slow down so that past decisions can be reviewed. However this wish is unlikely to be fulfilled, just as it has in every year since 2001. This lack of time to reflect and refine past decisions has become a major weakness in our security efforts. Almost every major security initiative in the last few years was developed quickly, resulting in having a functional, rather than an optimal, response to the security threat. The intention at the time was that bugs would be ironed out during operation and its effectiveness and efficiency would be reviewed when there was more time. However as new threats have continually appeared on the horizon, this 'catch up time' has never occurred. The result today is a multi-layered security environment in which there is considerable inefficiencies and duplication. A number of commentators have been calling for an audit of the whole of nation security review and such a review will almost certainly reveal significant opportunities for reallocating some of the estimated $10 billion allocated to domestic security and counter-terrorism since 2001.

The Commonwealth's national security website has been upgraded. According to the site www.nationalsecurity.gov.au , "this web site provides a single access point for counter-terrorism information from the Australian Government." While it is an improvement over the previous site, which can be viewed still at see at the international web archive site, there is considerable room for improvement.

There are two main improvements at the new site.

The first improvements is structuring the information around three groups

1. What Governments Are Doing
2. Information for Business
3. Information for Individuals

The older site didn't have a logical grouping structure - instead its structure was just a list of information in no particular order of importance. The list reflected the Australian Government's activities rather than how the business community, public and other governments would access information.

The second improvement is that there is now information on the State and Territory Counter-Terrorism activities. The old site just listed the State and Territory police forces and emergency services, with little more. Explaining what the other governments are doing takes the website from just a "whole of government" explanation of what is being done to secure the nation to a "whole of governments".

While both of these are good advances, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

These include:

• expanding the site concept from a "whole of governments" to be a "whole of nation" response to the terrorist threat. For people and businesses want information that will help them to contribute to their own security as well as national security, and this means providing information on organisations and resources, regardless of if they are government or non-government. If the government wishes a 'whole of nation' response, then we need a whole of nation information single access point.
• expanding the focus from just a "whole the information on the State and Territory Counter-Terrorism activities is far from complete. For instance the page on Victoria lacks mention of the Community Protection Act which is the State's defining counter-terrorism legislation for critical infrastructure. See here.
• while the site designers have emphasised (via the major heading on the home page) what the governments of Australia are doing, rather than simply what the Australian Government is doing, when you click on the link it first line emphasises what the Australia Government has done (ie Since September 2001, the Australian Government has made a strong commitment to fight terrorism and increase the security of all Australians from this page). See here.
• the site's search function is very poor. For example, searching for the term TISN generates just 4 hits. Using Google generates 21 relevant pages.
• There are a number of incomplete pages which have duplicates elsewhere. Eg this page on the TISN and on National Security Alert Levels
• inaccurate such as listing Business Continuity Central under a US website. See this page.
• old information. For example, when you click on Budget Fact Sheet on National Security Measures, it takes you to the 2004-05 Federal Budget. This is despite the fact that the 2005-06 Federal Budget has been out for many months. The probable reason for this is that there was never a single document consolidating the security expenditure for the 2005-06 Budget even though over $1.1 billion was allocated. For a report on the consolidated expenditure, see the May 2005 edition of the Insight.

AVAILABLE 18 January 2006 Australia's first Directory of Mass Transport Security Services and Technologies Description: The Directory is an easy to use information source to quickly locate companies with the particular skill or technology you are after. The comprehensive index lists over 140 categories making searching easy and accurate. Over 90 of Australia’s leading security organisations are included making the Directory an invaluable aid to rapidly locating expertise. Get your copy: Pdf version: Free, download from here (4.5 mb) Hard copy: $29.95 (inc. postage & handling), purchase online or download fax-back order form. Read More

3 Australia Honours List

Three people have been explicated recognised for their contribution to national security and counter terrorism in the Australia Day honours. They are:

• Mr Robert Cornall , Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). His citation was for service to the community through contributions to the development of public policy, particularly counter terrorism arrangements in a changing global security environment; and through providing advice and governance across a diverse range of responsibilities within the civil justice system.
• Commissioner Kenneth Moroney , Commissioner NSW Police. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). His citation was for service to policing and law enforcement as Commissioner of Police in New South Wales , particularly through implementing reforms to reduce crime and increase public confidence; and for contributions to national security issues.
• Dr Wendy Southern , First Assistant Secretary - Strategic Policy Group, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). She was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM). Her citation was for outstanding public service in the development of effective national counter-terrorism arrangements in Australia . Wendy was formerly the Assistant Secretary, Domestic Security Branch in PM&C, where she has been responsible for the development and coordination of policy on counter-terrorism, domestic security, border protection and criminal law enforcement.

The Science, Engineering and Technology Unit within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is calling for pre-proposals for research projects in a number of different areas. The programme supports strategically focussed research and development activities to enhance national counter-terrorism capabilities. The SET Unit is currently calling for pre-proposals that address requirements in the following areas:

• Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) detection and identification
• CBRN decontamination
• Treatment of people exposed to CBRN materials
• Decision support tools for responding to a CBRN incident
• CBRN forensic analysis
• Efficiency of building fixed fire fighting systems in the situation where mains water pressure is reduced
• Classification of building Facades as to Type and Bomb Blast Vulnerability
• Stand-off explosives detection
• Smart Surveillance (especially CCTV applications)
• Counter terrorism issues for building HVAC system specifications

Proposals are due by 3 February 2006. Information is here.

The latest newsletter from the Trusted Information Sharing Network was released last month.

Its articles include:

1. Property CEOs discuss security
2. Randall takes Project Griffin on Tour
3. Impressions of Project Griffin
4. Helping businesses to overcome IT dangers
5. Hurricane Katrina-first thoughts
6. BFAG's New Project Manager
7. Kokoda Conference 2005
8. A Counter-Terrorism Strategy for Places of Mass Gathering (see below)
9. Proliferating Sources of Cyber Attacks
10. Queensland CIP framework
11. TISN Secretariats Share Ideas

The newsletter can be obtained from here.

At a meeting in December, the Counter-Terrorism Strategy for Places of Mass Gatherings was released. It is the Business Plan of the Public Gatherings Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group (IPG-IAAG).

The plan outlines the group's determination to:

• develop clear government-business communication protocols;
• establish a counterterrorism toolkit based on best practice standards for business;
• foster a clearer understanding of the legal environment;
• contribute to a professional private security industry - including national accreditation and training;
• participate in planned counter-terrorism drills to improve readiness; and,
• raise business community awareness of counter-terrorism strategies.

The plan is classified 'strictly confidential'. See the TISN newsletter for more information.

ASIO has received 5,512 names for checking and has cleared 5,449 of them since it began receiving names for security checking those who require unsupervised access to ammonium nitrate in January 2005.

The remaining 63 names (1.1%) are in the process of being checked or ASIO is waiting for confirmation of the applicant's details - for example, on the spelling of names or the clarification of addresses.

The Australian, State and Territory governments agreed in 2004 on a national approach to licence access to security sensitive ammonium nitrate (SSAN) for authorised users.

The Attorney-General, Mr Ruddock, said only two jurisdictions - Western Australia and South Australia - were yet to implement the relevant legislation. "The Australian Government is ensuring ASIO is able to dedicate substantial resources to security checking, not only for the new ammonium nitrate regime but also for the aviation and maritime sectors, and the Commonwealth Games," he said.

In a speech on 21 January, the Attorney-General outlined the Australian Government's security role at the Commonwealth Games. From 15 March, Melbourne will host the Commonwealth Games, with 4500 athletes from 71 nations in attendance and crowds as large as 100,000 people expected at the MCG.

"During the Games, the Australian Government as a whole will support Victoria by:

• gathering and disseminating security and criminal intelligence, through our intelligence agencies and the Australian Federal Police implementing strong border control, through the Customs Service and the Department of Immigration using the Australian Defence Force to harness specialist capabilities such as maritime searches;
• bomb search and response teams;
• venue and vehicle searches; as well as chemical, biological and radiological incident response;
• maintaining transport security - air, maritime and ground - through the Transport portfolio;
• protecting dignitaries and VIPs through our Protective Security Coordination Centre; and
• enforcing Federal laws by the Australian Federal Police.

The major coordination role falls in my portfolio and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Prime Minister and myself will be in close touch with operational authorities and can take charge of Commonwealth responsibilities as necessary.

To ensure these activities are properly supported, we are contributing $85 million to security for the Games, as part of a broader Commonwealth contribution of nearly $300 million.

The end result should be one of the best Commonwealth Games ever and a demonstration of the robust and effective security capability we have been building over the past five years."

The Attorney-General will be shortly announcing the terms of reference and a review into the need for an identify card.

In an interview on ABC radio on 16 January 2006, he was asked about the relevance of the card to preventing terrorism. Below is the transcript.

PRESENTER: So how does an ID card help to prevent terrorism?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well it can have quite significant import in relation to whether or not people who are coming from abroad who may intend to carry out a terrorist act are able to move readily without being identified or.

PRESENTER: People from abroad? They won't have an Australian ID card?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: No, that's the whole point isn't it?

PRESENTER: But they'd be required to have a passport when they come into the country.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well they may or may not.

PRESENTER: Well how does anyone enter the country without some form of identification or passport?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well people have entered Australia clandestinely at various points in time.

PRESENTER: Well if they enter clandestinely no one is there to ask them for ID anyway?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: That's not necessarily the case, is it? The point I'm making is that if you do have a universal system of identification it makes it much easier to identify those people who are not included in the system.

In an interview on 17 January 2006, he was asked about the relevance of the ID card to homegrown terrorists. Below is the question and answer.

PRESENTER: But what of the suggestion that if, for example, in the case of terrorists, they are home-grown terrorists, that the card would be, well frankly, useless because if they're home-grown, they will have a legitimate Australian ID.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Well I mean identification. and I mean nobody is going to wear a badge around the top of their head saying 'I am a terrorist'. Issues relating to identification go to the question as to whether or not you can identify people who may be intent on carrying out a criminal offence or may have carried out a criminal offence. And home-grown or otherwise, it's often very important for the purpose of investigation to be able to readily identify people and to have a proper basis for doing so. So, you know, I'd simply say the fact that you may or may not have home-grown terrorists, the question as to whether or not a system of identification would help you in dealing with terrorist offences doesn't seem to be related to that issue. It relates to the question of would it help you if you were carrying out investigations? And I think it could.

On 8 December 2005, the Senate referred the Defence Legislation Amendment (Aid to Civilian Authorities) Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 7 February 2006.

The Defence Legislation Amendment (Aid to Civilian Authorities) Bill 2005 seeks to amend Part IIIAAA of the Defence Act 1903 in order to enhance the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) ability to support domestic security and to provide appropriate powers and protections for ADF personnel during callouts, including powers to search and seize and to use force in specified circumstances. Proposed amendments include those relating to: the use of Reserves in domestic security operations; ADF call out notification requirements; expedited call out procedures for sudden and extraordinary emergencies; identification of called out ADF personnel; criminal laws and procedures applicable to called out ADF personnel; and ADF powers to protect designated critical infrastructure and respond to domestic security incidents or threats in offshore areas or the air.

The issues of the use of ADF personnel to protect critical infrastructure featured in a number of submissions to the inquiry which can be read here.

The NSW Minister for Ports and Waterways recently outlined the latest initiatives to protect our ports from the threat of terrorism?

Quote

The latest equipment in our frontline counter-terrorism hardware is the provision of anti-terrorist vehicle barriers at Sydney 's Overseas Passenger Terminal, which can disable a speeding truck. This anti-terrorist barricade defence system is part of a $23.4 million security upgrade of New South Wales ports.

Our ports are critical State infrastructure. Unfortunately, terrorism has made ports security a top priority. We have greatly boosted security at Circular Quay's Overseas Passenger Terminal. These defence devices can stop a truck travelling at 80 kilometres an hour. They activate out of the ground and form a physical barrier that can crush a speeding truck and immobilise it. The barriers can be triggered in less than two seconds. .At 80 kilometres an hour the impact is much more than a little bump. The barrier slices through the engine and the truck stops so suddenly that the momentum of the trailer crushes the cabin from behind.

The anti-terrorist barricade defence system blocks vehicles from accessing the Overseas Passenger Terminal and around berthed vessels. At times of heightened security levels, these defence barriers will be permanently raised as a further security measure.

The Government has a range of measures in place to protect cruise ships and their passengers when they visit our shores. This is the biggest cruise season that Sydney has ever seen. Approximately 90 cruise ships will come into port over the coming months. We have to ensure that security requirements are appropriate to protect the ships and their passengers. With more than 156,000 tourists coming through Sydney every year on cruise ships, the cruise industry injects more than $30 million into the New South Wales economy. It is critical that we protect this infrastructure at the national standard for counter- terrorism.

The New South Wales Government has security plans in place for all visiting cruise liners. All our ports have their own security plans for individual terminals and facilities. The closed-circuit television cameras monitor key areas. In excess of 20 cameras are trained on the wharves at Sydney Harbour and Darling Harbour , including six thermal imaging cameras that can detect heat sources that are not visible to the naked eye. There are 30-metre exclusion zones around all visiting cruise liners. NSW Water Police and Sydney Ports Corporation vessels conduct random water patrols in Sydney Harbour and at Wharf 8 at Darling Harbour . In addition, we have improved security fencing, signage and barriers at all ports. We have physically strengthened the perimeters of the Overseas Passenger Terminal and the Darling Harbour Wharf 8 perimeters with new fencing, barriers and bollards as well as additional lighting.

Unquote

The Australian Auditor-General recently tabled a report into IT Security Management.

The ANAO concluded that the audited agencies had identified relevant Australian Government policies, practices and procedures for the protection of information. However, most agencies had not implemented structured processes to ensure the effective alignment of the IT security policy objectives with organisational risk management processes and Australian Government policy, practices, and standards for the safeguarding of information resources.

The ANAO found that the majority of agencies audited had adequately identified relevant external compliance obligations, and IT personnel interviewed were aware of relevant legislation and the associated compliance requirements. However, only two agencies could demonstrate suitable processes to assess system compliance with their IT security policy and with government requirements, and processes for managing exceptions/variations.

The ANAO found that most agencies did not maintain key IT operational procedures and configuration documentation. This was particularly evident of agencies that had contracted to third-party service providers for the provision of IT and/or IT security services.

The audit identified a number of opportunities for further improvement in agencies' policies and procedures relating to IT security management practices. These included:

• improving the content and processes for developing and maintaining IT security policy alignment with organisational risk management processes;
• ensuring a regular process exists within the IT security control framework to identify gaps between an agency IT environment and Australian Government expectations. This will assist in determining whether systems are operating at an acceptable level of risk;
• ensuring policies clearly identify the physical and environmental security controls and standards for managing IT equipment;
• ensuring performance reporting of network security practices are designed to ensure that security controls are adequately addressing IT security risks; and
• ensuring standards exist and are applied for the use of audit trails

The report is available here.

The US Congressional Research Service has released a report on the policy options to reduce the concentration of critical infrastructure. In the US , as in Australia , government policy including land use policy, has led to concentration of critical infrastructure in centralised locations. This concentration means that attacks or natural disasters in these areas will have disproportionate consequences. The report identifies the policy issues that could relieve or exacerbate geographic vulnerability. The Vulnerability of Concentrated Critical Infrastructure report is available here.

Emergency Management Australia is seeking grant applications from local governments, remote and indigenous communities and emergency management volunteer organisations for the Local Grants Scheme (LGS) and the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund (NEVSF).

The LGS will provide grants at the local government level to assist communities to develop and implement emergency risk management initiatives, enhance protective measures for critical infrastructure and provide emergency management and security awareness training for local government staff.

The NEVSF provides grants for projects developed to boost the recruitment, retention and training of volunteer organisations at the frontline of emergency management. Information on the grants are available here.

Ball and QinetiQ

Canberra based Ball Solutions Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with QinetiQ, the UK based global leader in delivering technology-based solutions to the defence, security and public infrastructure sectors.

The MoU will enable both companies to share information and cooperate in the development and delivery of professional services and solutions in the defence and other respective core markets. It will initially focus on technology areas such as modelling, simulation and training, network enabled capabilities, interoperability, capability cost modelling and estimation, obsolescence management and biometrics.

QinetiQ was formed in 2001 from the UK Government's Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA). Today, QinetiQ has over 11,500 employees, who deliver technology-based services and exploit QinetiQ's strengths in technology research by selling systems solutions, products and licences to government and commercial customers in a spectrum of defence, security and other commercial markets.

MOU to improve Brisbane Security

Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence and Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman have signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to reduce crime in the Brisbane CBD and surrounding areas.

The agreement sets out a framework for the parties to work collaboratively on crime prevention planning and coordination. Under this document, the Brisbane City Council will work closely with police to share information and ideas to enable the best response to crime, and assist in reducing people's fear of crime. This agreement will be in effect for two years and will require nominated police and council representatives to meet regularly to develop strategies to assist each other in carrying out their operational duties, and respond to anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.

Continual work on the CitySafe CCTV system and the maintenance of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Planning Scheme Policy are parts of agreement.

AFP Police Commanders at Airports

Eleven commanders have recently started their 10 day program to be police commanders at Australian airports. Their role will be to lead police units made up of AFP and State police to undertake community policing and counter-terrorism activity.

One power outage stops Customs

The Australian Financial Review earlier this month reported that the Custom's goods clearance system - the Integrated Cargo System - was brought down by a single power outage at a data centre in suburban Sydney . The article stated that "At 10:19am, Customs declared a formal outage, a move that requires authorisation from Customs' chief executive and brings into play a business continuity plan that industry has criticised as unworkable".

NSW CCTV network

NSW is examining the possibility of accessing in real-time the thousands of cameras owned by banks, supermarkets and other private businesses. Already an audit is underway to identify all of the cameras across the state, their owners and points of contact. Gaps in coverage will also be identified with the aim of getting cameras installed there.

Issues under consideration include:

• arranging for the private sector to record the camera vision and to retain the tapes for a set period, probably a week
• establishing a uniform standard for the quality of image
• arranging access to private sector footage rapidly
• resolve legal issues including privacy conflicts
• how to access all the different camera footage in real-time

7 February 2006 Symposium Deadly Connections: Terrorists and Weapons of Mass Destruction -

Parliament House, 9:00-4:00
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute is organising a symposium on terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. The symposium is designed to assess the nature of the threat posed by terrorists seeking to acquire and use nuclear, biological chemical and radiological weapons. The symposium will consider:

• Opportunities and constraints for terrorists to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
• Implications for Australia , for our major allies and for the Asia-Pacific.
• Current and future policy options to counter the threat.

For inquiries please call (02) 6270 5109 or (02) 6270 5125.

Satellite Imaging and Spatial Databases

Sydney : Feb 8th, 2006 2.00-4.30pm
Canberra : Feb 22nd, 8.00-11.30am
Melbourne : Feb 23th, 2006 2.00-4.30pm
Opentec International, Australia's home-grown producer of rugged portable computers, in conjunction with Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers, invites you to attend a technology seminar covering new technologies for mobile field operatives in a range of industries and applications, notably the latest developments in the use of Satellite Imaging and Spatial Databases for mobile users engaged in emergency response & major incident management. Brochure

1 February 2006: National Security Implications of the Avian Flu Pandemic

The United Services Institute of ACT has arranged for a presentation on the "National Security Implications of the Avian Flu Pandemic" at the Australian Defence College Weston Creek on Wednesday, 1 February 2006 commencing at 6.30pm in Spender Theatre. The speaker is Mr Christian Enemark from ANU, who is a member of the National Consultative Group on Biosecurity Issues.

Visitors are welcome. If they don't have a Government Photo ID/Security Pass which needs to be showed to gain access to the Australian Defence College, they you can make arrangements for entry by contacting the USI of ACT on 6266 2866 or 6266 2167 during business hours.

There will be snacks and drinks in the Officers Mess from 5.30pm

31 March 2006: Briefing and Showcase on Practical Pandemic Preparations for Agencies, Essential Organisations and Businesses

31 March 2006, Canberra
The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre, supported by the Research Network for a Secure Australia, are organising a briefing to provide practical preparation information for dealing with the panic arising from a feared outbreak as well as from an actual epidemic and pandemic. It will focus on what essential services, critical infrastructure and other agencies/businesses should consider doing. Information