Page 1013 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 31 March 1993
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Legislative Assembly Question No. 505
Police Force - Communications with Other
Security Agencies
Mr Humphries: To ask the Attorney General - what action has the Minister taken to
enhance communication facilities between the ACT Police and other security agencies
such as the AFP, ASIO, ONA and the Attorney-Generals Department, highlighted as
lacking, during the attack on the Iraq Embassy earlier this year.
Mr Connolly: the answer to Mr Humphries question is as follows:
The Commonwealth Government has principal responsibility for the coordination of special protection to diplomatic and consular representatives and missions in Australia.
Following the incident at the Iranian Embassy on 6 April 199?, Mr Michael Codd, the former Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, conducted a review of the existing arrangements and plans regarding counter-terrorism. In addition, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted an internal review of the incident and as a result, developed a Standing Operating Procedure (SOP). The SOP clearly defines the role and responsibilities of both AFP the National component and the AFP ACT Region in respect of incidents of politically motivated violence, and the procedures to be followed upon the receipt of information relating thereto.
In furtherance of responsibilities under the National Anti-Terrorist Plan, the ACT Region is a member of the Standing Advisory Committee on Commonwealth/State Co-operation for the Protection Against Violence. It is also represented on the Special Interdepartmental Committee on Protection Against Violence (SIDC-PAV) and the Special Incidents Task Force and the Diplomatic Sub-Committee which both meet under the umbrella of SIDC-PAV.
The AFP ACT Region, through its representation on SIDC-PAV and other related committees, seeks to continually monitor and update communication facilities with a view to maximising its response capability in the event of a similar incident to that which occurred at the Iranian Embassy.
Responsibility for day to day communications between the AFP ACT Region and Commonwealth security-related agencies rests primarily with the AFP ACT Region Special Intelligence Branch (SIB).
Communications between the SIB and Commonwealth agencies, including ASIO, the Australian Protective Service, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Protective Security Co-ordination Centre, arc frequent and often pertain to matters of intelligence relating to the security of Embassies and High Commissions.
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