Australia’s National Security Apparatus

1. Australia’s National Security Apparatus Ms Vikki Templeman Director Strategic Assessments and Long Range Planning

2. Introduction • The view from Australia • The threat - what is security? • Our national strategy • Preparedness • Prevention • Response • The future

4. Australia’s centre of gravity • Population • 20 million in a region of 3 billion • Concentrated in South Eastern corner of the 6th largest nation • ‘Responsible’ for 1/10th of the world’s surface • Environment • Unique flora and fauna • Livestock and agriculture • Trade • Interdependence with regional economies • Value and routing of trade • Infrastructure • Nodal structure concentrated around hub and spoke model • Vulnerable single points of failure • Armed Forces • 50 000 regular Service personnel, 35 000 reserves • Military capabilities

5. The threat • Terrorism • global • regional • Proliferation of WMD • State stability • South East Asia • Pacific Island Countries

6. Terrorism • Terrorism is NOT new - long been a tactic of the weak against the strong • Three new characteristics • radical and ideological cause • desire to cause mass casualties • traditional support network and global outlook • Many attacks since 9/11 have demonstrated the resolve of these new terrorist entities

7. Terrorism in the region • The threat of terrorism is global in nature and is enduring • Attacks of 11 September 2001 introduced new uncertainties to the security environment (Bali, Madrid, Jakarta…) • Australia is a potential target

8. WMD • WMD ultimate catastrophic threat • Strategic consequences of proliferation profound • Layered response: • economic • international • domestic

9. State Stability • South East Asia: • diverse internal and transnational problems • these challenges leave our neighbours vulnerable and are of concern to Australia • Pacific Island Countries: • economic, social and political problems • national development problems • limited capacity for governance

10. Our National Strategy • Security is key priority of government • Whole-of-nation focus • Key areas: • increased international and regional engagement • national coordination arrangements • domestic security measures • involvement of business and community

11. Engagement • Strengthening relationships: • importance of US alliance • committed to bilateral activities in Asia-Pacific (CT MOUs with 11 near neighbours) • Practical results: • operational cooperation (AFP) • coalition/UN operations (ADF) • sharing our experience and training

12. National Coordination • Importance of leadership from the centre • Strategic and operational initiatives: • role of National Security Committee: • National Counter Terrorism Committee • improving policy and planning • expanding federal/state links • expanding national CT exercise program • increasing role of business

13. Domestic Security • Primacy of situational awareness and coordination - establishment of National Threat Assessment Centre and others • Protection of Critical Infrastructure - risk identification and mitigation, bio-security, iconic structures, economic base • Transport security (maritime/land/air) • Border security (civil and military tasks)

14. Domestic Security con’t • Joint Offshore Protection Command • Special Operations Command • Significant increase in response capabilities: • Emergency Management Australia • Tactical Assault Groups (West and East) • Incident Response Regiment

15. The Future? • No end in sight for threat of terrorism - need to be constantly prepared • Transnational issues continue to feature in the security environment - connection between terrorism and crime • Traditional geo-political tensions also remain • Australia’s security is contingent upon regional and international security

16. Conclusion • National security is a priority for Government • Australia takes a whole-of-nation approach (multi-agency/multi-level) • Questions!?